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 https://www.youtube.com/@TheMergeMedia
🔗 Find Ryan Online:
- Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
- Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
- Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/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
22:25 - Mike's Close Calls
31:09:12 - Tom's Close Calls
41:44 - Flying Together Down Range
51:16 - Working With Foreign Forces
01:00:56 - Dropping Bombs
01:28:09 - What Do You Miss Most
01:36:48 - Listener Feedback
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Combat Story (Ep 19): John Stryker Meyer MACV-SOG Operator | Green Beret | Author
Combat Story (Ep 20): Jeff Depatie Tier 1 | Canadian JTF2 | Sniper | Special Forces Experience
Combat Story (Ep 19): John Stryker Meyer | SOG Operator & Team Leader | Green Beret | Author
Combat Story (Ep 18): Dale Comstock Delta Operator | Green Beret | Mercenary | Author | Entrepreneur
Combat Story (Ep 17): Greg "Gravy" Coker | Special Ops 160th Aviator | AH-6 Gun Pilot | Author
Combat Story (Ep 16): Thom Shea Navy SEAL | SEAL Sniper | Silver Star | Author | Entrepreneur
Combat Story (Ep 15): Dan "Two Dogs" Hampton - F-16 Fighter Pilot | DFC x 4 | Author
Combat Story (Ep 14): Todd Opalski Marine Force Recon | Delta Force | Scout Sniper | Zen Commando
Combat Story (Ep 13): Jack Murphy Ranger Sniper | Green Beret | Author | Journalist | Podcast Host
Cesar "Rico" Rodriguez: F-15 Eagle Fighter Pilot | Three Air-to-Air Victories
Tom Satterly: Delta Force Operator | Command Sergeant Major (retired) | Entrepreneur | Author
Combat Story (Ep 1): Elliot Ackerman | Marine Platoon Leader in Fallujah | Special Operator | Author | Silver Star
JT Snow: AH-64 Apache Pilot | Standardization Instructor Pilot | Air Medal (Valor)
Chris Baity: Marine K-9 Handler | Non-Profit Founder | Washingtonian of the Year
Jordan Becker: Army Special Forces (10th Group) | Foreign Area Officer
Wes Bryant: Air Force Special Warfare | SOF TACP-JTAC | Author
Dr. Clyde Horn: Purple Heart Recipient | Vietnam Infantryman | Author | Psychotherapist
Eric Brethen: OH-6 Loach & AH-1 Cobra Pilot | Vietnam Veteran | 3 x Distinguished Flying Cross
Hubert Yoshida: Marine Corps Platoon Commander | Vietnam Veteran | Operation Utah
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