Fellow Aces High pilots, friends and foes,
Please join us in a salute to our fallen Commanding Officer Vega. He died suddenly on Monday, May 25 from a burst aorta artery. He was 65 but in otherwise good health. His wife Lauri flies with the Dickweeds as callsign DNR911 and his son and daughter have previously flown with the Dickweeds in Aces High as well.
Vega learned to fly at a young age in Southern California. While building hours, he befriended aviation legend Jackie Cochran, and the two flew a Twin Beechcraft all over the western United States. He met Pancho Barnes and befriended test pilots Tony Levier and Fish Salmon. In the early '60s he began flying for American Airlines as a flight engineer on the DC-6 and retired about 6 years ago as an international captain on the Boeing 777. At the time of his retirement he held the regal seniority number of "2" and chose to fly the Dallas to London Heathrow route. He had more fun leading B-17 missions in Aces High than flying for the airline, though, and he retired a few years early.
With Papafox, Vega cofounded the Dickweed Heavy Bomber Group more than a decade ago. Back then, we flew in Warbirds, but we migrated to Aces High during the beta stage of the new combat sim. We have at times departed the field with 30 squad members flying 3 bombers apiece, for a total of 90 bombers in the air. No squad in the virtual world has consistently flown these numbers nor exceeded our longevity as an active bomber squadron. Vega believed in departures right on time and if a squadie was late, he was left behind. We enjoyed lots of humor on squad freq but got serious when the fighters started attacking.
After retirement, Vega stated that he wouldn't "chicken dance" in front of the TSA and vowed to never fly on an airliner again. He kept his word. Whenever he and DNR911 wanted to go some place they'd jump in Vega's F33A Bonanza and head out. They've been known to fly from Pensacola, Fl., to Reno, NV, in one day and still arrive in time for dinner.
The Dickweeds have attracted our fair share of celebrate pilots over the years. Air race legend Lyle Shelton, who flew his F8F Bearcat Rarebear to victory often at Reno, flew fighter cover as a Dickweed for several years. Last week, Vega amended the mission so that 90 year old Korean F-86 Ace Bones Marshall could join us as fighter cover.
Vega believed in staying fit and in staying proficient with a firearm. He advocated a unique mix of discipline and humor. The traits that he cemented into the Dickweed Heavy Bomber Group will remain there as we fly on. Please join me in saluting this fine C.O.
Salute!
Papafox
