The Road to Nellis
The first time I ever saw the Thunderbirds was in June of 1966 at Stewart AFB in Newburg, New York. I was a one striper , Airman 3rd class in those days and needless to say the Team left a lasting impression on very young 18 year old. I remember the different assignments I had on the road to Nelis such as; a vacation in Vung Tau, Viet Nam. Four years on the beautiful white beaches of Fort Walton Beach. I also got to spend 18 months learning how to order a beer in German….”Ein beer, bitter” was the battle cry in Wiesbaden, Germany. When I rotated back to the States I was station at Cannon AFB, in Clovis, New Mexico, one of the prize duty stations in the Air Force. It was there that I was once again reacquainted with the Team.
I remember it was the summer of 1974, the base was having its annual “Open House” and the Thunderbirds were scheduled to put on an air show . I’ve always been very patriotic but seeing those Jets streaking by in perfect formation with the Red White and Blue motif was awe inspiring, The following Monday mourning. I was at the CBPO, getting my application to the Thunderbirds, ready for submission. I can remember calling the Team and speaking to Bobby Dupree in Maintenance Control and asking what the status was on my application. Of course he couldn’t comment only to say no decision had been made.. The call came that fall. Bobby said Capt White, the Logistics officer, was flying into Cannon AFB and that I was to meet him at the base ops for an interview. Talk about being nervous. The meeting went well, no trick questions just “a get to know you meeting.” I walked Capt White to the flight line shook his hand gave him my best hand salute and watched as he got strapped into his T-38 and took off.
Months went by and my dreams of becoming a Thunderbird were getting dim when some time in the following February or March I was called into the Chief of Maintenance’s office. You don’t go to the Chief’s office expecting a cup of coffee and a smile. So I gathered myself together, reported to the Chief and waited for what thought was going to be a good old fashion ass chewing, for what I don’t know. Instead he gave me o0ne of those sly smiles and handed me a piece of paper and said “Congratulations, you’re going to be missed around here.” In my hands were orders to report to the greatest military organization in the world, the USAF ADS, The Thunderbirds. That June, I was on The Road to Nellis.
John “Beef” Bourguignon
Maintenance Control, 1975-1977