HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Former military aircraft mechanics spoke to Aviation Challenge campers on Monday at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, sharing stories from their military careers, their experiences in fighter squadrons, and their diverse roles in aviation.
While the Top Gun movies may have glamorized fighter pilots, the reality of their work is much more than the daring maneuvers seen on screen.
Among those sharing their experiences was Sam Herrera, a former Navy machinist who worked with the "Screaming Eagles" squadron featured in the original Top Gun film.
“So these pictures would have been taken in about '83. These are probably sitting off the coast of Hawaii in the morning sunlight as the sun's rising,” Herrera said, showing images from his time in the Navy.
Herrera’s path to a fighter squadron was unexpected.
“Little did I know when I joined the Navy that I was going to a fighter squadron. I didn’t even know what that was,” Herrera recalled. “If you know the Top Gun story, it’s for the elite of all pilots. So being in a fighter squadron is kind of like being in an elite group by itself, because not everybody gets to go to a fighter squadron.”
The visit to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center was especially personal for Herrera, as he got to see the very plane he once worked on.
“All these planes got taken out of commission. To find out it was still here, to find out it was actually my bird, my assigned aircraft, is pretty cool,” he said.
Herrera was joined by other former Navy mechanics for a reunion that has been in the works since Memorial Day.
“It’s a bond. It’s a camaraderie. These guys that I’m here with, man, we pick up right where we left off. It bonds us together in a way that going to college wouldn’t, high school wouldn’t, or playing on the same football team wouldn’t,” Herrera said. “The camaraderie that we had as a unit was pretty tight.”
While the group reminisced about their time in the military, they also focused on inspiring the next generation. They spoke with eighth graders from Farnsworth Aerospace Upper Campus, a public school in St. Paul, Minnesota, who were visiting the center for a hands-on learning experience.
The students participated in a Q-and-A session with the mechanics and got a chance to handle aviation equipment.
“The coolest thing I’ve learned is probably like who flew these planes and when they were used,” said Sylvia Kampling, an eighth grader from St. Paul, Minnesota. “I really like the fact that they did this. It’s a big deal.”
For Herrera, the opportunity to inspire the students was equally meaningful.
“Giving them the insight to what they don’t know yet; it’s pretty cool. They don’t even know what they don’t know yet,” Herrera said. “And how much they retain? I don’t know, but if you can inspire just a little bit, to stick to it, sticking to it is more important than anything else. Don’t give up. Don’t quit.”
