So There I Was

She’s five feet tall and larger than life! She once grounded an entire A&P school’s ego. Meet Mary Latimer — a pilot, mechanic, controller, examiner, and walking aviation pioneer. In this episode, she narrowly avoids lawn-darting a Cessna 172 from 5,000 feet with no elevator control using trim like a Jedi, and managed a mag failure mid-checkride. She once told an Air Traffic Control manager sh...

Ben Densley joins So There I Was to share his extraordinary journey—opening with a terrifying incident during a night parachute jump on to becoming a Green Beret, then a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He recalls intense special forces training, covert operations in Laos, and flying for Air America in combat zones. Ben speaks candidly about the dangers he faced, the emotional toll of war, and the res...

This week we hand the mic to Pisser — a Marine aviator whose call sign isn’t an insult… it’s a proven skill… Yes, he really can clear a 15-passenger van… LENGTH-WISE! From calling in fast movers to dropping bombs and one-liners, Pisser takes us on a high-speed run through the hilarity and hazards of military aviation. He crushed flight school, built tactical air control programs, and s...

In this riveting episode of So There I Was , we sit down with John “Apache 2-3” Haugen, a Vietnam-era Army aviator with stories that span from the draft line in 1968 to combat flying in the Mekong Delta. John shares how he dodged a ground-pounder fate by heading to Officer Candidate School, ultimately flying slicks and accumulating over 900 hours of combat flight time. With humor, humility, and gr...

Dr. David Hamilton, retired surgeon and award-winning historian joins us to to discuss his upcoming book The Enigmatic Aviator: Charles Lindbergh Revisited (out May 21, 2025—on the 98th anniversary of Lindbergh’s legendary flight to Paris). Dr. Hamilton unveils the lesser-known side of Lindbergh—his pivotal contributions to medical science, organ perfusion technology, and even the design of early...

Bill Robinson recounts the harrowing story of being shot down over North Vietnam in 1965 during a rescue mission gone sideways. What followed was nearly eight years as a prisoner of war — making him the longest-held enlisted POW in American history. From in-flight helicopter refueling with 55-gallon drums to the chaos of capture, jungle survival, torture, and eventual release, Robinson shares vivi...

Former U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Jason “Quinny” Quinn shares the harrowing story behind the Distinguished Flying Cross he earned after saving five people from a burning ship in the Bering Sea. With only one helicopter and 26 people reported in the water, Quinn was deployed near the vessel Galaxy as it rolled violently in 25-foot seas. Swimming close to massive propellers and through smoke an...

In this unforgettable episode of So There I Was , Howie Franklin—the only steward to serve five U.S. Presidents aboard Air Force One—joins us for an incredible deep dive into presidential history. With unmatched humor, insight, and warmth, Howie shares behind-the-scenes stories about Presidents Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Bush, and Ford. From rock-and-roll boombox diplomacy to emotional moments follo...

In this episode, Howie Franklin, the only flight steward to serve five U.S. Presidents aboard Air Force One, joins us with jaw-dropping stories from a life lived at the center of American history. It kicks off with a story with former Marine Commandant General Krulak and quickly dives into Howie’s early days — from rubbing elbows with celebs on Fire Island to working in elite kitchens as a teenage...

In this high-speed, low-altitude ride of So There I Was , the guest—a decorated WSO in both the F-111 Aardvark and F-15E Strike Eagle—shares some of the most intense moments of his flying career. He takes us over the Nevada desert at Mach 1.3 and just 100 feet above ground level. He recalls near-misses, like narrowly avoiding an A-10 while threading a ridge line. The thrill of tactical aviation co...

In August 2017, about 100 miles west of Key West, a Yort found himself in a tense moment during what was supposed to be a routine intercept mission. After being redirected to the Phantom airspace, he learned an aircraft might have gone down—a chilling way for any aviation story to turn serious.  That moment of uncertainty launched a gripping tale that unfolds with career-spanning insights int...

From a kid watching F-16s in Albuquerque to flying the legendary AV-8B Harrier, Warren’s journey into Marine Corps aviation is packed with twists, challenges, and near-disasters. It all started with a recruiter’s dare and his mother’s skepticism—fueling his path from Navy ROTC to the cockpit of one of the most unique aircraft in military aviation. But the road to the sky wasn’t easy. Warren overca...

🎙️ Episode 150: Fast Eddie Ed Cobleigh—Fighter Pilot & Aviation Adventure Author Strap in for a high-speed, low-drag episode as we welcome “Fast Eddie” Ed Cobleigh —fighter pilot, weapons instructor, and best-selling aviation author. If you’ve ever dreamed of pulling 5 Gs, dodging bureaucracy, and outmaneuvering enemy fire , this episode puts you right in the cockpit . Fast Eddie shares pulse-...

This week on So There I Was , Jeff & Jay Moss join us to share their unique journeys as Army attack pilots and men of faith . From the cockpit to the home front, their paths have been shaped by battlefield decisions and life’s toughest challenges —the kind that test both the body and the soul. Jeff has faced the crucible of war . Jay has forged his own path, carrying on the family legacy as an...

Buckle up for a wild ride with A-10 Warthog pilots T-Dub and Quintana! From dodging bureaucracy to dodging bullets, these two bring hilarious and jaw-dropping combat stories straight from the cockpit. Hear about strafing tanks in Iraq , the legendary Kandahar Unicorn , and why British Special Forces will obliterate anyone who messes with their dog . Expect fighter pilot pranks, piddle pack nightma...

From ‘Worm’ to ‘Wolfy’: A wild ride through a career in Naval Aviaton What happens when a determined young man with a dream of flying almost misses his shot—only to have fate (and a sharp-eyed Naval Officer) step in? Wolfy joins us to share his incredible journey: from nearly missing his chance to serve, to nailing the perfect interview , to never, ever quitting. Along the way, he’ll crack you up...

JTAC Combat Stories with Black Rifle Coffee’s JT This week, So There I Was takes a wild turn as we welcome JT—combat veteran, Air Force JTAC, and co-founder of Black Rifle Coffee Company . Not only is he a certified badass , but he also runs a fund to support veterans and first responders—because great coffee and great causes go hand in hand . Surviving JTAC Training & Dodging Bullets JT share...

Lucky may be the most fitting callsign ever. On September 11, 2001, she and her squadron were caught off guard—just like the rest of the nation. Thrust into an unprecedented mission, they had to adapt and overcome in real-time. In this gripping firsthand account, hear how Lucky responded to the attacks, the challenges she faced, and why she still believes they failed that morning. This episode del...

This week on So There I Was , we sit down with Dan from the Danger Close podcast—an active-duty ATC Tower Controller with a wealth of experience keeping the skies safe. Dan takes us inside the tower, where every day is a mix of routine operations, high-pressure moments, and the occasional heart-stopping emergency. Ever wondered what really happens when pilots mess up on the radio? Or how controlle...

Double-L comes back to chat with us about firefighting from the air! This episode takes an in-depth look at the dangers and challenges of aerial firefighting, featuring returning guest, Double-L. The discussion kicks off with his harrowing experiences flying C-130s through valleys engulfed in flames, emphasizing the immense risks pilots face. He shares firsthand accounts of Modular Airborne Firefi...

This week, A-10 pilot Soup shares the untold story of leading the first mission into Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda. Navigating chaotic airspace without deconfliction in a high-stakes “knife-fight in a phone booth” battlespace, Soup delivers gripping accounts of close air support, critical decisions, and coordinating dozens of aircraft to protect troops on the ground. This episode dives int...

Shyster joins us to talk about flying Marine Attack helicopters after being told by the recruiter, “The Air Force is down the hall.” After combat deployments, Shyster found himself at HMX-1 – The Presidential lift squadron – and one fateful morning in September when the world turned upside-down, Shyster was right there at the highest levels of our government watching and wo...

Some of the best stories of 2024. May you have a blessed and happy 2025. We’re thrilled you’re with us and we only ask that you please share the show with friends. Each chapter of this show lists the episode from which the story was taken. Check Six!

Welcome to the first ever So There I Was Hangout. Being as it’s the holiday week we are publishing this hangout as a show. Sound quality is rough in some parts and it’s not a ‘smooth’ interview… but there are thousands of folks who didn’t get to come hang out with us. We will do a “Best Of” show on New Years Day – and plan on resuming with regu...

This week Fig, RePete & Sticks engage in some hangar talk this week as we had a tech issue preventing our scheduled guest from joining us. Hear us numbskulls recount some of the stories that led us to where we are today! Hang Out with us on Zoom 22 Dec at 5PM Eastern Time Click Here for the zoom link!