T-38C down at SPS
05-02-2008, 04:43 PM
#11
Hire me
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 406
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/...ay/02/victims/
Col. David Petersen, 80th Flying Training Wing commander, identified the two pilots who died yesterday in a T-38C crash at Sheppard during a press conference Friday afternoon at the base. Petersen said the instructor pilot was Maj. Brad Funk, 35, a member of the 90th Flying Training Squadron at Sheppard and the student pilot was 2nd Lt. Alec Littler, 23, a student pilot in the 80th Flying Training Wing's Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program.
Funk and Littler were on a routine training flight and were on approach to Sheppard's airfield when the crash occurred at 7:55 a.m. Thursday. Officials at the base the cause of the crash has not been determined. The Air Force grounded all T-38s in wake of the crash at Sheppard and another T-38 crash that occurred April 23 at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. where two pilots also died.
Col. David Petersen, 80th Flying Training Wing commander, identified the two pilots who died yesterday in a T-38C crash at Sheppard during a press conference Friday afternoon at the base. Petersen said the instructor pilot was Maj. Brad Funk, 35, a member of the 90th Flying Training Squadron at Sheppard and the student pilot was 2nd Lt. Alec Littler, 23, a student pilot in the 80th Flying Training Wing's Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program.
Funk and Littler were on a routine training flight and were on approach to Sheppard's airfield when the crash occurred at 7:55 a.m. Thursday. Officials at the base the cause of the crash has not been determined. The Air Force grounded all T-38s in wake of the crash at Sheppard and another T-38 crash that occurred April 23 at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. where two pilots also died.
05-02-2008, 06:39 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 248
Gyro
Across the country tonight, bros are sitting in squadron bars toasting you over whiskey and telling stories about you. The bros are taking this pretty rough. Unfortunately, I can't be back at the old bar, and I'm class B in VA, so I'm drinking whiskey by myself and writing this to you on an open forum on the off chance it makes me feel better. I hope the random dudes reading this will forgive me.
When I got the word yesterday, I felt like I had been hit by a truck. You are genuinely one of the best human beings I've ever met. And I thought that before yesterday as well, so it's not the sorrow and booze talking. I actually said that to other people all the time, but just never to you. I regret that. Every single dude I've talked to has said the same thing. I can't get your smiling face out of my mind. In fact, I can't even remember seeing you without a smile on your face. You made all the squadrons you were in a better place to be.
After I heard, I picked up the phone and called all the old bros I could think of. Everyone is crushed. I apparently had misprogrammed one dude's number in my phone when I transferred numbers from my old phone. I accidentally stored your number under his name, so when I tried to dial him your voice mail picked up and I heard your voice. I hung up quickly like a scared kid. Then I lost it man. It was awful. I keep thinking that maybe I didn't misprogram it after all and the Big Boss intervened and blessed me to let me hear your voice one more time. I deleted the number already, so I'll never know.
Sorry for the rambling, brother. The whiskey isn't dulling it, but I do feel a little better just having typed this.
"To the Boneheads, the Boars, the Furies, and all you other 'fricks'" (as you would say)
And to you, Gyro.
You are sorely missed my friend.
Across the country tonight, bros are sitting in squadron bars toasting you over whiskey and telling stories about you. The bros are taking this pretty rough. Unfortunately, I can't be back at the old bar, and I'm class B in VA, so I'm drinking whiskey by myself and writing this to you on an open forum on the off chance it makes me feel better. I hope the random dudes reading this will forgive me.
When I got the word yesterday, I felt like I had been hit by a truck. You are genuinely one of the best human beings I've ever met. And I thought that before yesterday as well, so it's not the sorrow and booze talking. I actually said that to other people all the time, but just never to you. I regret that. Every single dude I've talked to has said the same thing. I can't get your smiling face out of my mind. In fact, I can't even remember seeing you without a smile on your face. You made all the squadrons you were in a better place to be.
After I heard, I picked up the phone and called all the old bros I could think of. Everyone is crushed. I apparently had misprogrammed one dude's number in my phone when I transferred numbers from my old phone. I accidentally stored your number under his name, so when I tried to dial him your voice mail picked up and I heard your voice. I hung up quickly like a scared kid. Then I lost it man. It was awful. I keep thinking that maybe I didn't misprogram it after all and the Big Boss intervened and blessed me to let me hear your voice one more time. I deleted the number already, so I'll never know.
Sorry for the rambling, brother. The whiskey isn't dulling it, but I do feel a little better just having typed this.
"To the Boneheads, the Boars, the Furies, and all you other 'fricks'" (as you would say)
And to you, Gyro.
You are sorely missed my friend.
05-02-2008, 08:48 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Gyro was "Jimmie" when I knew him first--a hard charging F15 student who had a great attitude and worked very hard. (He was working so hard he was critiquing himself-and ALA Seinfeld got stuck with "Jimmie", as in "Jimmy's going down...) I was very proud when he rolled back into Tyndall a few years later as an IP.
T-Bone nailed it--I never saw that dude without a huge smile. He was a great guy with a great attitude. We got to fly together towards the end of his training--some ACM and DACT. He was a well liked student, and from all I saw became a very well liked squadron bro and IP.
I'll be toasting (alone) tonight as well. RIP my brother...
T-Bone nailed it--I never saw that dude without a huge smile. He was a great guy with a great attitude. We got to fly together towards the end of his training--some ACM and DACT. He was a well liked student, and from all I saw became a very well liked squadron bro and IP.
I'll be toasting (alone) tonight as well. RIP my brother...
05-03-2008, 06:41 PM
#20
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 27
Here is the latest information that I have about Gyro:
To make donations send to:
Wells Fargo Bank
Attn: Funk College Fund
809 8th Street
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Send flowers to:
Lindquist & Sons Funeral Home
3408 Washington Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84401
Toll Free: 1-877-394-6667
Funeral services will be held Sat, 10 May at 11:00AM in Roy Utah at:
North Park Ward (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Chapel)
4275 S. 2175 W.
Roy, UT
All who want to attend the funeral are welcome. You do not have to be a member of the Mormon church to attend. If you have any questions let me know.
To make donations send to:
Wells Fargo Bank
Attn: Funk College Fund
809 8th Street
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Send flowers to:
Lindquist & Sons Funeral Home
3408 Washington Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84401
Toll Free: 1-877-394-6667
Funeral services will be held Sat, 10 May at 11:00AM in Roy Utah at:
North Park Ward (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Chapel)
4275 S. 2175 W.
Roy, UT
All who want to attend the funeral are welcome. You do not have to be a member of the Mormon church to attend. If you have any questions let me know.
