{"id":5297,"date":"2021-05-31T11:47:34","date_gmt":"2021-05-31T16:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/doctoraviation.com\/?p=5297"},"modified":"2021-05-31T11:59:51","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T16:59:51","slug":"memorial-day-thunderhawks-tribute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doctoraviation.com\/memorial-day-thunderhawks-tribute\/","title":{"rendered":"Memorial Day: Thunderhawks Tribute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Each Memorial Day I attempt to post a blog remembering one of my fellow airmen who \u201cgave the last full measure of devotion\u201d.  As this year marks the 30th<\/sup> anniversary of the First Gulf War I earlier in the year reposted blogs remembering PJ Weaver<\/a> and Steve Phillis<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Altogether I lost 13 brothers in arms to death while I was on active duty.  Today I memorialize several who died in the same crash, The Thunderhawk Crash of 1987<\/a>.  Ironically, I received an email message about that crash just this week.  The Thunderhawk Crash of 1987<\/a> has been the most read blog of all time at Doctor Aviation.  That encourages me that many want to memorialize those six that crashed serving their country on March 13, 1987.  Memorial Day 2021, Lest we Forget\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This
The AF Thunderbirds<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Idea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The concept was known as \u201cThe Thunderhawks\u201d.  It was an idea based off the successful Air Force demonstration team: The Thunderbirds.  The idea emanated from Omaha Nebraska, the home of Strategic Air Command (i.e. SAC).  General John Chain was the Commander.  Chain\u2019s idea was to \u201cspice up\u201d air shows routines performed by the SAC crews.  The B-52 and KC-135 were the backbone of SAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
General Beckel <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The idea was aided by General Robert \u201cBob\u201d Beckel.  Beckel had been the Commandment of Cadets while I was at the Air Force Academy.  The first Academy grad to serve in the role.  He was charming, charismatic and immensely popular with the cadets.  Beckel served as a Thunderbird from 1965 to 1967 and was, in 1987, the Chief of Staff at SAC Headquarters. (Click here<\/a> to see his full bio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fairchild Selection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fairchild Air Force Base was chosen to be the testbed for the demonstration team. Several senior pilots were tapped and began flying in early 1987.  I remember observing a practice one day, alongside of Jess Schloss, our Chief Boom.  We watched the KC-135 roar over the runway at about 200 feet and then pull up and to the right very aggressively.  \u201cBig Boys with their Big Toys\u201d, Jess observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This
The MIGHTY KC-135A: Type flown by the Thunderhawks<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

On Friday, March 13, 1987 three pilots, a young navigator and a boom operator climbed aboard the Mighty KC-135 for a Thunderhawk practice.  A more seasoned navigator, Jim Litzinger, decided to jump aboard the flight at the last minute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the practice the KC-135 flew overhead the runway and pulled up and to the right in a 90-bank turn.  The aircraft stalled and began to nose down.  There was not enough altitude to recover from the stall.  The aircraft crashed between the squadron building and the Base Exchange.  All aboard perished.  Paul Hamilton, observing on the ground was killed as well.  For more details on the flight itself, including photos, see a previous blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Aftermath<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"This
General John “Jack” Chain<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The young navigator\u2019s grieving dad pressed hard for General John Chain to be relieved of command.  Ultimately his efforts were not successful.  Chain<\/a> retired from active duty in 1991. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirty plus years later a memorial lies in the air park at Fairchild AFB devoted to the fallen aviators.  Their names and marker are below.  Even though they did not die in battle, they died serving their country.  Hence, these Seven Crewmembers deserve to be remembered on Memorial Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Michael Cornett Pilot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frank Johnson Pilot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris Chapman Pilot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jim Litzinger Navigator<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark Myers Navigator<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodney Erks Boom Operator<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul Hamilton Boom Operator (on the ground)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This
Memorial to the Thunderhawk Aviators,
Water marks are from the Sprinkler System<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Each Memorial Day I attempt to post a blog remembering one of my fellow airmen who \u201cgave the last full measure of devotion\u201d.  As this year marks the 30th anniversary of the First Gulf War I earlier in the year reposted blogs remembering PJ Weaver and Steve Phillis.  Altogether I lost 13 brothers in arms […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":338,"featured_media":4149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[39],"tags":[732,1263,1264,142,731],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMemorial Day: Thunderhawks Tribute - 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