JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
For retired U.S. Navy Capt. Pieter Vandenbergh, flying in
the Air Force was his ultimate dream job while growing up in Holland. However,
there was one very large problem standing in his way.
Now, 40 years later, the former Air Force second lieutenant
finds himself back with the service, this time as a government civil service
instructor pilot with the 451st Flying Training Squadron at Naval Air Station
Pensacola, Fla., after graduating Sept. 16 from Pilot Instructor Training.
Being able to bring back experienced military aviators such
as Vandenbergh as civilians is a big win for the Air Force according to U.S.
Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Johnson, who commands the 451st FTS.
“Having these seasoned pilots back in the fold, with their
flight experience, immense talent and love of flying, is a force multiplier for
us,” Johnson said. “Their dedication to
the mission of training prospective air warriors is second-to-none. It’s like
managing an all-star team with a legacy of professionalism without equal.”
As a T-1A Jayhawk instructor pilot, Vandenbergh will train
undergraduate Combat Systems Officer students in the advanced phase of flight
training as part of the advanced phase of training operations for the 479th
Flying Training Wing.
After commissioning through the Reserve Officer Training
Program as an Air Force second lieutenant in 1975, Vandenbergh found himself
getting dropped from both pilot and navigator training because of the need to
downsize the flying force after the Vietnam conflict.
Still desiring to fly, Vandenbergh resigned his commission
from the Air Force and in 1976, entered the Navy with the rank of ensign and
joined the Aviation Officer Candidate program.
With the Navy’s need for aircraft carrier aviators at the
time, Vandenbergh went directly to undergraduate pilot training at Naval Air
Station Kingsville, Texas. After
graduation, Vandenbergh began his career in the A-6 Intruder and flew 20
different aircraft overall, logging more than 11,000 flight hours and 929
carrier landings.
Vandenbergh culminated his Navy career as an air wing
commander.
Prior to coming back to the Air Force, Vandenbergh worked as
a civilian pilot for the Navy, flying and instructing in the T-39 Sabreliner.
As a CSO instructor, Vandenbergh will fly on a daily basis
with students, perfecting low-level visual navigation, radar navigation
air-to-ground strike training routes and airways navigation sorties. He will also train them to serve as mission
commanders for electronic warfare, weapons systems and navigation, to employ
kinetic and non-kinetic weapons to dominate the battle space.
Having spent 20 of his 40 years in the aviation world in a
military instructional role, teaching and mentoring future warriors,
Vandenbergh feels confident in his new students.
“Judging by the professionalism, enthusiasm, conduct and
character of our young aviators I’ve seen since coming back, our future is
promising and secure,” Vandenbergh said.
“There is no doubt we are living up to the high standards set by our predecessors.”