Lucky Devils and 401st TFW(P) Reunion

[MKopack]

It's a couple of weeks past now (and I'm beginning to sober up) and I'm happy to be able to report that Lucky Devils and Forgotten 1000 had a successful Las Vegas reunion - nineteen years after the Gulf War.

From countless pitchers and drinks at TGI Friday's at the hotel/casino, to golfing on Friday morning, walking 'The Strip', and then out to Nellis on Friday evening for a shot(s) of Weed at the USAF "Fighter" _{(sorry, old habits die hard)} Weapons School bar, and a meet-and-greet / pre-airshow party / full contact crud game hosted by the Nellis O-Club (followed by a repeat performance at the Friday's bar.)

Saturday morning was bright, windy and cool as we were off to Nellis' Aviation Nation airshow, and a great photo opportunity over at one of our old birds, F-16C 86-0315 (44 missions in Desert Storm - thanks MR for bringing her out!) and after the show it was back to the hotel and a quick turn for our Reunion Dinner. (Followed by another trip over to Friday's, where, by this point, they knew us all pretty well...)

I'd never been to a reunion before, of any kind, and didn't really know what to expect. We had everyone attending from crew chiefs who separated as Buck Sgt's (yeah, that's me), to several still on active-duty, to our then Wing King (Retired Col.) flying squadron commander (Retired Lt Gen.) to several current base and wing commanders - and an Ambassador thrown in for good measure. It was an incredible weekend filled with great times and even better people. Way beyond anything I would have expected.

What's next? Stay tuned for 2011!

The Lucky Devils and Forgotten 1000 in the Gulf War

Mike Kopack

Some of the gang over at the jet.

'Orville' in front of 0315.

'Jed' and 'MR' in front of the first 614th

marked 16, since 1991.

_{(I've had those stickers in the closet for a long time...)}

Once again, a 16, marked as the 401st TFW,

for the first time in nearly 20 years...

Pilots and maintainers - nineteen years later.