So There I Was

Spook joins us to talk about becoming a Marine pilot, Reuniting with Fig after 37 years, Flying the Hornet in the Marines and the Royal Australian Air Force. Find out why he chose the Marines over the Air Force and the Navy. Find out how he got his callsign. Learn that he has video proof that HE was the one to shoot down a drone tractor. Hear how he placed in a race he wasn’t even in. Find o...

Th is Kemo’s hat-trick show as we comes to tell us all about flying CAS (Hint – It’s NOT about Close Air Support!) Flying Contract Air Services is a job most of us aren’t aware exists – What a waste! And a myriad of other subjects… try ‘n keep up!

In this episode, we delve into our experiences in the Marine Corps and aviation tales, prompted by guest Dan of the excellent Danger Close Podcast . Subscribe to that show here: Danger Close Reflecting on how military service shaped us, we share stories of fallen comrades, challenges faced in emergencies, and the unique focus of the Danger Close podcast on war films. From Marine Corps values and l...

This week on “So There I Was,” join hosts Fig & RePete and special guest Dan from the “Danger Close Podcast” as they embark on a thrilling exploration of a Marine Air Traffic Controller’s life turned podcaster. Experience firsthand the intense challenges of boot camp and the critical responsibilities within an Air Traffic Control Tower where every decision is cruc...

Join us on this week’s episode where we sit down with Bill “The Weatherguy” Korbell, a man who’s forecasted everything from monsoons in Thailand to the less-than-perfect day for a presidential flight. Starting off his career in the sweltering heat of 1960s Thailand with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Bill was the go-to meteorologist briefing for Operation Bolo, which aimed to out...

Join us this week for an engaging conversation with Isaac G. Lee, author of “Hangar 4.” This groundbreaking book is the first to detail the Marine Corps’ CH-53E “Super Stallion” operations during Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Known by his call sign “Whisky,” Lee provides a fascinating look at his illustrious career. His journey begins in Quantico’s d...

This week buckle up with Grease as he takes us on a high-flying journey through his storied aviation career. From zipping across skies in sleek Saber-Liners and Lear Jets to commanding the formidable B-1 Bomber and the elusive U-2, Grease has done it all. He dives into the thrilling early days of the B-1 and reveals the sky-high challenges of piloting the U-2—like pre-breathing oxygen just to side...

This week’s guest, KK, hails from East Germany—back when the Berlin Wall was more than just a memory. Believe it or not, flying was nowhere on her radar until one fateful birthday in her 40s when she was gifted a sightseeing flight that quite literally propelled her into the skies. From the second that engine roared to life, KK was smitten. She wasn’t just hooked—she was lassoed by the...

Disco joins us to share tales from his thrilling experiences—from his days at OCS to piloting the AV-8B Harrier during the Gulf War and teaching both students and instructors in the Harrier Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS). With his vivid storytelling, sharp wit, and infectious humor, Disco’s narratives will leave you clutching your sides in laughter. His legendary pranks, executed fearlessly on a...

Note: Don’t miss out on even more laughs! Head over to https://sothereiwas.us/patreon to join and hear two additional hilarious call sign stories not included here! In this wild episode of our podcast, we dive into the wild and whimsical world of naval aviation call signs with Lobo, the famed author of “ What’s Your Call Sign?: The Hilarious Stories behind a Naval Aviation Tradit...

Buckle up for a jaunt through the skies with the dynamic duo Fig & RePete, known to the world as “Co-Horsts,” as they prepare to take you on a slightly less than ordinary flight with Professor Hal Sundt. He’s not just any guest; he’s the mind behind “Warplane: How the Military Reformers Birthed the A-10 Warthog,” and he’s about to drop some knowledge b...

Episode 101 of our show, “Fun in the Mach Loop,” promises a whirlwind of tales with our guest, “Sniper,” affectionately also known as “Divot,” a seasoned F-15 Strike Eagle pilot whose exploits in the skies are as thrilling as they are enlightening. From the nail-biting tension of being shadowed by French Mirages without diplomatic clearance to a dramatic engine...

Welcome to So There I Was episode 100!!! This week’s title is short for, My Girlfriend, Now Wife, She’s a Keeper is a testament to persistence, love, and the unexpected journeys life can throw our way. In this episode, we delve into the remarkable story of Woody, who began his career in the skies as a load master. With every cargo secured and every flight a new lesson, his dreams of becoming...

Meet retired Marine Drill Instructor “JC,” the man who turned terrorizing into an art form for officer candidates dreaming of the skies! In his time, JC wasn’t just flying high as a Marine Plane Captain in an F-4 Phantom Squadron or mastering the systems as a Flight Engineer on the KC-130. Oh no, he was also the gatekeeper of dreams at the Navy’s Aviation Officers’ Candidat...

YouTube Pilot Debrief channel creator, Hoover, joins us to talk about Flight School, Flying the F-15 Strike Eagle in Combat, How he got the callsign “Hoover” and his time as an exchange pilot flying F/A-18 Hornets with the Marines; inlcuding becoming “Carrier Qual’d” – one of the few Air Force pilots ever to do so! Don’t miss this great interview! OLYMPUS...

In episode 97 of “So There I Was,” Mooch, a former F-14 Rio Extraordinaire, shared gripping aviation experiences from intercepting Iranian P3s to near collisions over Morocco. From Naval Academy training to missions aboard the USS Independence, Mooch’s journey showcased the camaraderie within the aviation community. The discussion included anecdotes of aerial refueling, humorous...

Dive into an electrifying episode of So There I Was, where hosts, Fig, RePete, and Sticks, engage in a riveting conversation with the “Great Tuntini.” In this episode, Tuntini returns to share his experiences piloting helicopters and the evolution of them as weapon platforms in the US Navy, delving into the significant advancements the US Navy has made to enhance their effectiveness in...

This is an incredible week as our guest “Rosie” recalls his experiences growing up on a Kansas farm during the “Dust Bowl” years in the 1930s and going from austere beginnings to enlisting in the Army Air Corps on his 18th birthday. Not wanting to be an infantryman, Rosie passed the tests necessary and convinced the medics to let him fly when it looked like they might ground him. After training, h...

In this riotous saga, a quartet of RePete, Fig, Sticks, and the impossibly chill pilot Ice (who’s cooler than a yeti’s icebox) – embark on a whirlwind of sky-high shenanigans. Ice, a maestro of the skies, has tamed both SH-60 helicopters and UH-1s in realms chillier than a snowman’s handshake—yep, Antarctica. He unveils tales of aerial school antics, including how to auto-r...

In an engaging episode, Gallo shares more unforgettable tales from his time as a test pilot. He tells of his first time flying a two-seat “T AV-8” marked by a canopy incident that almost ended disastrously. The conversation takes an unexpectedly humorous turn when Gallo finds himself explaining the nuances of space travel to none other than Neil Armstrong, the pioneer of lunar exploration. This mo...

Dive into an extraordinary tale of survival with Guvna as he shares his heart-stopping experience of cheating death by mere milliseconds. From an unassuming start on a routine flight, fate takes a dramatic turn, thrusting him into a pulse-pounding showdown against the odds. Witness the incredible interplay of sheer luck, piloting prowess, masterful engineering, and the unforgiving forces of nature...

Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a high-flying adventure with Kerry McCauley, the intrepid author of “Ferry Pilot” and “Dangerous Flights” as well as star of the Discovery Channel show by the same name; “Dangerous Flights.” He’s touching down on our show to share his thrilling and often unpredictable experiences in ferrying light civilian aircraft ove...

Get ready for the finale of our chat with the one and only Gallo! This isn’t just any interview – it’s a rollercoaster ride through the epic tales of a man who practically became one with his Harrier jet. Picture this: a career so gripping, Gallo didn’t hang up his Harrier flying even after bidding adieu to the Marine Corps. Oh, and remember “Kaos” from episodes...

Gallo joins us to talk about his time at the Naval Aceademy, why he chose the Marines and only planned to stay in for 4 years, flight school with the Air Force, Flying Phantoms in Combat in Vietnam, his transition to Harriers, Test Pilot assignments and much much more! A true legend of Marine Aviation – This is the first half of two shows with Gallo… Enjoy! Enola Gay Crew Paul Tibbets

Join us for an enthralling episode. We delve into the remarkable life story of Butch Rutt, a man of many talents and experiences. A high school dropout turned Navy P-3 Pilot, Rutt’s journey is anything but ordinary. From his time as a bail bondsman to his role in Customs & Border Patrol, his diverse career has been filled with unique challenges and adventures. One highlight of this episo...