It has been
eight years this week since the
332nd Flying Mongrels http://www.332nd.org/ opened their doors. I have made countless friends due Aces High and Warbirds.
Our squad members in these eight years have shared and grieved many losses. Members have lost their jobs, suffered through divorce, lost parents, and even children. Most recently some were affected by Katrina and had supplies shipped their way. Some have shed tears of joy and pain together. I cannot begin to tell you the number of times members have come to the aid of one another for various reasons. The generosity of this group gives testimony to what we are about.
A place where men become friends and friends become brothers. I started this squad under the prompting of Al “docdog” Arline in November of 1997. He came over one night and with graphic hand movements and vivid detail he described how he flew a P-38 on one engine with smoke pouring out and landed it after engaging an enemy Zeke. I was hooked before I even downloaded Warbirds. I was amazed with the graphics, (black pencil sticks for smoke and red pencil sticks for fire) and thought I was in heaven after years of book case games by Avalon Hill. I am sure some of you remember Dauntless and Airforce.
Our squad grew steadily grew for 2 years until we made the move to Aces High. Many stayed in Warbirds, but about 1/3 of us moved over. Ghosth led the charge to make the move and has been a faithful, steadfast, solid X.O. for several years now. Truly my right hand man. From our newest members, CarbHeat, HeavyH, TCE2506, to some of our oldest Wklink, Harppa, Texdog, TeeeRex, and all those in-between, each one makes it a better squad. I am blessed to call these guys my friends and am a fortunate they consider the same of me. Lastly I want to thank Ozark for hosting for hosting our site and forHIM for his time in the managing our squad BB and site.
Our squad from its conception has focused on having fun and making friends and I attribute that philosophy to the success of the squad and to its quality members. It is rare indeed that we kick anyone out. The members list is long, but by no means complete. I posted a list of current and former members and it is inevitable I will miss one or two. Members are given ranks in accordance to our posted rules and regulations which has been modified over the years to suit us best. Ranks really mean little to us, but simply show those who have been with use the longest, flown the most missions and at times have lead missions. In many instances the low rank and number of missions flown do not reflect how long someone has been a member. Many of those who are 2nd Lieutenants or Airman have been members for well over a year or two, but are unable to make many of the squad nights to earn a mission. Also many of the past names are well known regulars and now have their own squad after cutting their teeth with us.
We attended our first con in 2002 and one after that. We hope to attend the next one if they host it in July or so.
Hint, hint.
Thanks HTC for the years of fun and enjoyment. Without your efforts none of this would have taken place. It has been worth every penny. Also thanks to the CM’s and other squads I have gotten to know in Squad Operations or MA flying. Way too many to mention.
Current members listed by missions flown X.O. Lt. Colonel Bill “ghosth” Jamison – 224 missions
Captain Bill “TeeeRex” Wainscott – 188 missions
1st Lieutenant Dick “maddog” Thompson – 113 missions
Major Gary “vaderr” Soares – 109 missions
Captain Nick “Starbird Ristow – 105 missions
Captain Scott “swagger” Erich – 93 missions
Captain Lieutenant Shannon “forHIM” Ryks – 93 missions
Captain Nick “sarge1” Martin – 91 missions
Captain Tom “wklink” Cofield – 90 missions
1st Lieutenant Warren “sour” Gross – 73 missions
Captain Don “Ozark” Elliot – 71 missions
1st Lieutenant Ted "TeeDog" Severns – 70 missions
1st Lieutenant Mark “makarov9” Lagarde – 65 missions
1st Lieutenant - Ted "middog" White – 58 missions
1st Lieutenant - Bernie "skernsk" Failing – 56 missions
1st Lieutenant Larry “SunKing” Sterling – 51 missions
2nd Lieutenant - Eleuterio "Falcon59" Santana – 40 missions
1st Lieutenant – Steve “HeavyH” Hyde – 45 missions
1st Lieutenant – Jason “TCE2506” Felumlee – 45 missions
1st Lieutenant Mike “CarbHeat” Dorsey – 44 missions
2nd Lieutenant Kim “speede” Werenka – 35 missions
Airman Jed “sondog” Glazier – 19 missions
Airman David “outlaw” Edwards – 11 missions
Inactive or past members Major Kevin “nifty” Haynes – 130 missions
Major Harri "harppa" Neimi - 92 missions
Captain John “banana” Dahlen – 83 missions
Captain Todd “Texdog” Cooley – 62 missions
1st Lieutenant Joe “blutik” Barry – 74 missions
Captain Steven “puke” Johnson – 72 missions
1st Lieutenant – Ian “Renrael” aka “justdog” Farrell – 64 missions
Major Stephan "woodog" Waldtmann - 61 missions
Captain Frank “tbones” Perisino – 61 missions
Captain Marshall "dracer" Campbell - 58 missions
Co Founder - Major Al "docdog" Arline - 57 missions
Captain David "booker” aka “pageflip" Erb - 55 missions
Captain Dan “”hamerd” Scott – 54 missions
1st Lieutenant Don "cup" Howden – 49 missions
Captain Rasmus "wilbus" Mattsson -48 missions
Captain Mike "rock" Bunn - 48 missions
1st Lieutenant Chris "b-town" Bradbury - 46 missions
Captain Paul "gospel" Lukes 44 missions
Captain Arlis "ibex" Kelly - 38 missions
Captain D.R. "tufdog" Smith - 34 missions
1st Lieutenant Trey "ammo" Wells - 31 missions
Captain Petros "macho" Matsakos - 30 missions
Captain Stephen "gunthr" Guenther - 30 missions
1st Lieutenant Brad “GeoDog” Stark – 29 missions
1st Lieutenant Pascal “deSelys” Roman – 26 missions
1st Lieutenant Brad “paxil” Stark – 25 missions
1st Lieutenant Oscar "odee" Dillion - 23 missions
2nd Lieutenant Mark "merlly" Travis - 21 missions
1st Lieutenant Dan "rico" Thacker - 20 missions
Captain Tom "snowy" MacDonald - 20 missions
2nd Lieutenant Matt "shermn" Sherman - 19 missions
2nd Lieutenant Justin "wineman" Boeger – 18 missions
2nd Lieutenant Hogni "darling" Gylfason - 18 missions
1st Lieutenant Larry "killdog" Clopton – 17 missions
2nd Lieutenant Keith "hudman" Morris - 17 missions
2nd Lieutenant Todd “w00lie” Woolever – 15 missions
2nd Lieutenant Ken "x-man" Baugh - 15 missions
2nd Lieutenant Brian "canine" Churchill -15 missions
1st Lieutenant Geir-Anders "GA" Hansen - 13 missions
2nd Lieutenant Rudi "andy" Sovik - 10 missions
2nd Lieutenant Herbert "udog" Walbeck - 10 missions
Airman Lou "nicet" Pesano - 7 missions
Airman David “Bbanzai” Finan – 7 missions
Airman Chris "bmer1171" Toombs - 6 missions
Airman Anthony "megado" Clopton - 5 missions
Airman Wayne "grumps"Fisher -5 missions
Airman Fred "coyote22" Budziak – 4 missions
Airman Chris "nopoop" Overholser - 4 missions
Airman Richard "MataHari" Ness - 3 missions
Airman Bob "cutter" Godfrey - 2 missions
Airman Mark "grillman" LaPlante – 8 missions
