Two Combat Aviators Talk Flying Jets and Danger Close Runs | F-15 E Strike Eagle | Pako and Gunny

Today we have a Combat Story where we bring two F-15E Strike Eagle aviators - a front seater and backseater - together to talk about what it was like flying at the same time and some of the adventures that come with that life. Both Tom “Gunny” Moser and Mike “Pako” Benitez are decorated aviators, both Fighter Weapons School qualified and both former Marines (Tom an 0311 and Mike a helicopter aircrew member and door gunner). We interviewed both Gunny and Pako individually if you’re curious about their other near misses and danger close shots (or the origins of their call signs…Pako shared his call sign origin story with us on air for the first time!).

Pako now distributes The Merge newsletter that provides an inside and more fun look at the defense industry with over 20K subscribers and hosts The Merge podcast. Gunny is now a commercial airline pilot flying domestic routes across the US.

Special thanks to Ryan “Stinger” Fishel for connecting us with these two vets and with that, please enjoy this rare opportunity to hear from two combat aviators together!
Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

This episode was sponsored by Give Legacy.
Listeners can use the code COMBATSTORY to get 10% off everything on the site
You can find out more by going to www.givelegacy.com. That’s givelegacy.com.


🔗 Find Mike Online:
The Merge https://themerge.co/
The Merge Youtube    / @themergemedia  
🔗 Find Ryan Online:
Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
Instagram @combatstory   / combatstory  
Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

👇 Show Notes:
00:00 - Introduction
00:55 - Guest Profile: Mike Benitez
00:19 - Marines Becoming Friends
03:28 - Mike and Tom First Meeting
10:32 - Teachings in Fighter Weapons School
24:25 - Bolotor Ad
25:28 - Close Calls
32:11 - Tom's Close Calls
42:47 - Flying Together Down Range
54:16 - Give Legacy Ad
55:36 - Working With Foreign Forces
01:03:19 - Dropping Bombs
01:31:31 - What Do You Miss Most
01:36:11 - Listener Feedback