MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Navy pilots from the Vietnam era paved the way for modern aviation, and when some of them returned to the flight line more than 40 years later, they brought back the magic of the past to today’s generation.
A group of 40 former Navy F-4 “Phantom II” pilots and crewmen from Fighter Squadron 151 the “Vigilantes” reunited at Miramar Aug. 27.
The retired service members were stationed together at Miramar more than 40 years ago and served together in Vietnam.
Upon arrival, the group took a tour of the air station and stopped at Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, the “Black Knights,” to see some F/A-18D Hornets.
Each of the former pilots and crewmen along with their wives climbed ladders leading to the cockpits of the Hornets to get a closer look. Afterward, they took a tour of the hangar and met with pilots and Marines from the squadron.
At the end of the tour, the group went up to the ready room, where Lt. Col. Max W. Cain II, the commanding officer of VMFA-314, briefed them on modern-day aviation.
“Naval aviation paved the way for us and is part of our heritage,” said Cain. “It plays a large role in our history and in our current mission in Afghanistan.”
The group shared stories with the commanding officer and fired off questions about modern-day aircraft and avionics.
Many of the former pilots and crewmembers had not seen each other after Vietnam and were thrilled to reunite with their comrades once again.
“I am happy to be here,” said Ted “Hawk” Triebel, a retired Navy captain of VF-151. “It’s great to be here and share memories with good friends.”
Triebel flew 327 missions over four combat deployments and was shot down during Vietnam along with his co-pilot Dave S. Everett. Both were captured alive and detained as prisoners of war by the North Vietnamese.
The two, once stationed at Miramar together in 1972, reunited here and shared some memories of the war and the air station with the rest of the group.
“We developed a friendship and have stayed in touch with each other,” said Everett. “It is great to see all of these guys after so many years.”
The group shared distinctive memories of the hangars and the squadrons that occupied Miramar during the late 1960’s and early 70’s.
“1972 was a golden age in aviation, and this was a booming base,” said Everett. “It was 100 percent about flying.
“Although Miramar changed in the past 40 years, the flight line looks much like it did back then. This is a very special place,” he continued.
After the tour, the group returned to the Officer’s Club for lunch. The next day the group visited the USS Midway as part of their visit. They later returned back to their homes scattered across the country.
For many of the former pilots, crewmen and their wives, it was a nostalgic reminder of a historic era combined with a glimpse into the future of military aviation.
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