1994 International Air Tatoo

Standing left to right, FCO. Tom LaMonica, Nav. Jose Davison, Pilot. Larry Muench, UNK, UNK, MX. Phil Barrier, UNK, UNK, UNK, Front row: Sensor. Gene Pelletier, Pilot. Clay McCutchan, IO. Bobby Barton.

July, 1994 the International Air Tatoo (IAT) was held at RAF Fairford, UK and the theme of the air show was to commemorate the 40th birthday of the C-130. The 919th was requested to fly "The First Lady" in for the event and she was given the place of honor on the ramp for literally hundreds of thousands of Brits and other international attendees to see. With Desert Storm (1991) being relatively fresh in attendees' memories (and the role that the Gunships played in the war), The First Lady and "her" crew were the centerpiece of the IAT.

The IAT is really a benevolent trust organization for the RAF which is similar in nature to our AF Aid Society. We were told that King Hussein of Jordan (until his death in 1999) was a major benefactor/supporter of the IAT since the Brits had provided him the venue to receive flight training. Anyway, on the first/second day of the air show, we were told that King Hussein and Queen Noor wanted a guided tour of The First Lady. The Brit protocol folks came by to announce that and then sent several others to teach us what we could and couldn't do in the presence of the King/Queen, how to address them, how far to bow when shaking hands, etc. It was quite a kick.

Queen Noor Al-Hussein of Jordan