27 September 1968 – Kuldar “Koot” Visnapuu was serving with the 174th TFS Phu Cat “Bats” in Vietnam. Lt. Kuldar Visnapuu’s had just taken off from a base in South Vietnam when his Supersabre was hit by enemy fire. He turned the plane toward the South China Sea and ejected safely, watching as his jet
Tom Mahan spent a short time in the F-100 C and D models during CCTS at Luke. He has a familiar F-100 story, one of a 2/LT getting his feet blown off the rudder peddles as he selects afterburner (AB) while turning hard during his first BFM defensive maneuver. There was an impressive fire out the front end and the Lieutenant had to repeat the defensive maneuver, this time with judicious use of AB and loading up the F-100.
After retiring from the USAF Tom joined Rob “Blitz” Pollock in Ops Analysis of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. Tom spent twelve years with the Skunk Works working survivability requirements with USAF, Army, and USN special units. He then became the West Coast Representative for Pratt & Whitney’s Military Engines for the next ten years.
