So taking his “fini flight” on Friday, July 30, at the Springfield Air National Guard Base as it moves to two new missions proved bittersweet.
But he also kept it in perspective and couldn’t be too sad.
“I’ve had several friends who walked out to their jets and never got the chance to walk back in,” he said.
Four F-16 pilots walked back in officially for the last time Friday — Wallace, Col. Mike Roberts, Lt. Col. John Thompson and Lt. Col. Nathan Thomas.
The Base Realignment and Closure Process stripped the base in 2005 of its jets and mission instructing U.S. pilots by 2010. The U.S. jets all will head to other units by mid-August.
Earlier this year the Air National Guard announced two new missions — analyzing data for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and remotely flying the unmanned MQ-1 Predator.
The 178th Fighter Wing will become the 178th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing.
The four pilots who flew their last official sortie Friday each have thousands of hours in the F-16.
Roberts, the base commander, has more than 3,200 hours. When he was getting ready, he couldn’t believe it was for the last time. But once airborne, he focused on the flight.
“It’s finally starting to hit home now that I’m done,” Roberts said after landing.
Thompson has nearly 3,500 hours in the F-16. For him, it was more emotional watching his fellow pilots land.
His last flight was much harder on his wife, he said. His sons sprayed him down with a fire hose after he landed.
“I told them before we came out here today, ‘It’s not riot patrol. Don’t try to knock my legs out from under me,’” Thompson said.
Thomas’ family also took the chance to soak him. He also has nearly 3,500 hours in the Viper.
“I’m going to miss going out and having the freedom and just the wonderful view from the front seat of that thing,” he said.
Master Sgt. Jeffrey Neely has been a crew chief for 16 years. They oversee the maintaining and readying of the jets, and have a close relationship with the pilots. He hopes to become a sensor operator on a Predator crew.
“It’s sad,” Neely said of the fini flights. “I’ve been during this for a long time and it’s ending way too soon.”
Although it’s hard to accept that the F-16s are leaving, Roberts said getting ready for the new missions is keeping everyone busy.
“We’re not going to have time to dwell on the past,” he said. “We have to move forward ... We’re going to do a great job in our new missions, just as we have in the F-16.”
Retired U.S. Rep. David Hobson called the fini flights the end of an era.
While it’s tough to see the jets go, he said the new missions will position the base well with high tech jobs.
“The future here will be the future of the Air Force,” Hobson said.
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