aviation history

River Rats Over North Vietnam: AFA Palm Springs Lunch Recap with Major Lee Cohen

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Yesterday’s AFA Palm Springs lunch at ROC’s Firehouse Grille was truly memorable. Sixteen of us filled the meeting room to hear one of our own, Major Lee Cohen, USAF (Ret.), share his experiences as a member of the famed River Rats during the Vietnam War.

Over 100 Missions in an EB-66
Major Cohen flew the EB-66, logging more than 100 combat missions in heavily defended skies over North Vietnam. His firsthand accounts gave us a vivid window into what it was like to fly electronic warfare missions day after day in some of the most hostile airspace in history.

Learning About the River Rats Association
For many of us, one of the most surprising and enlightening parts of Lee’s talk was learning about the River Rats Association, formally known as the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association. Most of the room was unfamiliar with the organization before his presentation.

Lee explained how the group began in 1967 when aircrews from across the services came together to share tactics, improve coordination, and build esprit de corps during the Vietnam War. They took their nickname from the Red River Valley airspace — one of the fiercest aerial battle zones of the conflict. What started as tactical collaboration grew into a lasting fraternity dedicated to preserving bonds of service, honoring sacrifices, and supporting fellow aircrew families.

Scholarship, Legacy & Museum
Lee also shared how, in 1970, the River Rats launched a scholarship program with the mission of “taking care of our own.” Since then, the program has awarded 1,468 scholarship grants, totaling more than $3,274,000 to the children, grandchildren, and spouses of Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army aircrew members. This was new information to most of us and a powerful reminder of how their mission continues today.

The River Rats also maintain a museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which preserves their history and tells the story of the men and women who flew in one of the most challenging air campaigns in U.S. history.

For more about the River Rats and their history, visit their website: https://www.river-rats.org

A Historic First for Female Aviators in the USAF

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The first 10 female officers to graduate from the Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training Program, Class 77-08, with a Northrop T-38A-50-NO Talon, 63-8111, 2 September 1977. (U.S. Air Force)

On this day in 1977, the U.S. Air Force celebrated a monumental achievement: the graduation of the first 10 female officers from Undergraduate Pilot Training (Class 77-08) at Williams AFB, Arizona. Serving alongside 36 male classmates, these trailblazers earned their coveted Silver Wings and broke through barriers that had stood for decades.

Their names — Captains Connie Engel, Kathy La Sauce, Mary Donahue, Susan Rogers, Christine Schott; First Lieutenants Sandra Scott, Victoria Crawford; and Second Lieutenants Mary Livingston, Carol Scherer, and Kathleen Rambo — stand as testaments to courage and perseverance.

Among them, Capt. Christine E. Schott would go on to make history again as the USAF’s first woman aircraft commander, flying the C-9A Nightingale.

Initiated by a 1975 pilot-training test program, these women logged over 210 flight hours in advanced trainer jets and blazed a trail for future generations of female aviators.

Decades later, their legacy continues: in 2016 they were inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, and the AETC Trailblazer Room stands in their honor.

On this anniversary, we salute these pioneering women and the women following them who soared beyond limitations.

👉 Read the full story here: https://vintageaviationnews.com/warbird-articles/this-day-in-aviation-history-graduation-of-the-first-10-female-air-force-pilots.html

National Aviation Day – Flying in the Nose of a B-25

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From the glass nose of a B-25 Mitchell bomber, the view over the Salton Sea is both breathtaking and humbling. This position, once occupied by a bombardier in World War II, offers one of the most dramatic perspectives in aviation — a reminder of the courage it took to fly these aircraft in combat.

Today, August 19, we share this video in recognition of National Aviation Day. Established in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the observance was set to coincide with the birthday of aviation pioneer Orville Wright. The day encourages reflection on the achievements of the Wright brothers and the continuing impact of aviation on our world.

Among the aircraft that carried forward that legacy is the North American B-25 Mitchell. Best remembered for its role in the daring Doolittle Raid of 1942, the B-25 served across every theater of World War II, from the Pacific to Europe. More than 9,800 were built, performing missions that ranged from level bombing to anti-shipping strikes, and many continued flying long after the war in training, transport, and even civilian roles.

Flying in the nose of this aircraft today connects us directly to that history — bridging past and present through the experience of flight.

Gary Lueders on KC-135 Missions in Vietnam

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KC-135 Stories from the Vietnam War — Gary Lueders at the Air Commandos Luncheon

At this week’s AFA 134 Air Commandos Luncheon, retired airline pilot and military aviator Gary Lueders gave a compelling talk about his time flying the KC-135 Stratotanker during the Vietnam War. With a great turnout of 15 attendees filling the table at Roc’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert, Gary shared firsthand accounts of flying 123 combat air refueling missions, supporting aircraft under dangerous conditions across Southeast Asia.

His presentation covered both the personal and the historical—from the heroics of air-to-air refueling to the operational challenges and moments that defined the KC-135’s role in the war. He also brought original squadron patches from the Wild Weasels and the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, each with its own storied (and humorous) legacy, featuring mottos like “YGBSM” and “NKAWTG” that only aircrews truly appreciate.

A “Wild Weasel” flight patch shared by Gary Leuders during his presentation—complete with the classic and unofficial squadron motto “YGBSM,” whose meaning remains a bit of an inside joke among aircrew.

A patch from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, part of Gary Leuders’ time flying KC-135s. The letters “NKAWTG” stand for “Nobody Kicks Ass Without Tanker Gas”—a proud, unofficial motto among air refueling crews.

From growing up next to Alexandria Air Force Base to a 31-year career with American Airlines and volunteer work at the Palm Springs Air Museum, Gary’s lifelong connection to aviation came through with insight and enthusiasm.

A great lunch, a strong showing, and another memorable session of shared history and community.

📍 Roc’s Firehouse Grille
📅 April 30, 2025

Air Commandos Lunch April 30th

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You’re Invited: AFA 134 Air Commandos Luncheon
Special Guest Speaker – Gary Lueders
“Flying the KC-135: A Career in the Air and Beyond”

Join us for an engaging presentation by Gary Lueders, a veteran KC-135 pilot whose career spans Air Force service during the Vietnam War, a 31-year flying career with American Airlines, and leadership roles in aviation and community service. Gary will share stories from his time flying 123 combat air refueling missions during the Vietnam War, his work as an FAA Check Airman, and his continuing involvement in aviation.

📅 Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
🕦 Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Roc’s Firehouse Grille
36891 Cook Street, Palm Desert, CA 92211

Growing up next to Alexandria Air Force Base, Gary’s early passion for aviation set the stage for a remarkable career in both military and civilian aviation. His experiences flying the KC-135 and mentoring pilots reflect a lifetime dedicated to flight and service.

The Air Commandos Luncheon began as a way for AFA members and friends to reconnect following the COVID lockdowns. Held every couple of weeks, it’s an informal gathering for conversation, camaraderie, and lunch ordered from the menu—now with the occasional addition of a guest speaker.

There is no fee to attend—just come and enjoy your own lunch and/or beverage.

All are welcome. No RSVP required.