Page 6A THE NORTH GEORGIA NEWS December 25, 2019

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Whitey circa 1995 standing in front of the A-6E Intruder with 12 MK-20 Rockeye, each with 247 smaller bombs inside. Photo/submitted The Vogel Tree Lighting and Christmas Program featured a robust turnout this year, especially given that it was largely interrupted the last two years due to weather. Photo by Lowell Nicholson codename for ‘ 2,’” engineer, he decided it was time the A-6E, F-15E and B-1B Whitey said. “As we started to act on his dream of becoming bomber, the latter two being year. Hill said there were 12 have about 80 volunteers out working with the studio, they an aviator by signing up for U.S. supersonic. “The last two years we area churches involved in the here right now.” confided in us that, yes, this training, To this day, Whitey is haven’t been able to have it tree lighting, some outside of For his part, country was the filming of ‘TOP GUN: where he graduated No. 1 in thankful for having received out here (due to weather),” Union County. music class-act Justin Terry MAVERICK,’ and we were his class. the opportunity to serve his Hill said. “We were glad – we “There’s a lot going on,” agreed with Becker, saying that bound at that time not to say Being the country in a role many could thought we’d have to build the Park Manager Jack Becker said. the Vogel Tree Lighting was a anything because it wasn’t “HONORMAN” guaranteed only dream of. crowd back up, and really, it’s “It’s nice to have everybody terrific event. public that it was even coming Whitey the opportunity to train “You don’t do this job for a lot of people. This is a good out here again. Honestly, “I’ve been doing it for out. in the jet of his choosing. So, glory or the pay – you’re not crowd. I’m happy. though, the churches are doing years,” he said. “It’s one of my “When the trailers started he picked the venerable A-6E getting rich doing it,” Whitey “I just appreciate the an amazing job putting this favorite events, and I always getting released, then we were Intruder in hopes that the aging said. “You do it out of the love volunteers doing this. Most of together for us. look forward to it. Janet’s allowed to talk about it a little aircraft would be replaced with of your country, the love of your them have been doing this for “They do a fantastic job. fantastic. It’s always a feel-good but were asked not to reveal any a follow-on attack plane like family and community, and for 17 years. We have some new They pretty much take the lead ceremony, and I especially love of the characters or storylines.” the Avenger, the aircraft he had the guy that’s right next to you. ones this year. They’re just so on all this. We just help set up. that they include Jesus.” Two movie trailers spent several years wind-tunnel You’d die for that guy. dedicated.” They get all the music, they have since been released for testing before it was cancelled. “I would take a bullet “TOP GUN: MAVERICK,” Whitey continued his to save that guy; I would have and together, they feature a career as a navigator in the A-6E done whatever it took to save number of scenes showing Intruder, a twin-jet carrier-based the guy I was flying with. It’s a AV8RSTUFF’s substantial medium-attack two-seat bomber bond known only by a few, such contributions to the film. aircraft capable of deploying as firefighters, police officers Appearing in the trailers rockets, missiles and bombs. and other first responders who are AV8RSTUFF patches “Flying from an aircraft have that same kinship with adorning the titular character’s carrier during the daytime is like each other.” green Nomex flight jacket and the E-Ticket ride at Disney – it’s Alongside AV8RSTUFF. the infamous leather jacket unbelievable,” Whitey said. com – founded in 1998 and originally worn by Maverick’s “You go from zero to 150 mph owned by Whitey’s wife dad, as well as the memorabilia in 1.7 seconds, and you hope Mechelle – the retired military being worn by the other aviators you’re doing 150 mph when you flyer works for a company called and quite a bit of the historical get to the end of the ship, or else Sigma Defense out of Warner items seen in the background of you’re going to get wet! Robins that contracts with the many of the scenes. “You launch, conduct U.S. Department of Defense. And AV8RSTUFF’s your mission, recover and land. The Whites have been contributions to the production During daytime operations, married for 22 years and have went beyond the mere provision in clear weather, no radio two children, Brittany and of memorabilia. transmissions are made at the Hunter. Brittany graduated “The crew from ‘boat.’ It’s all done visually. medical school in May, and Paramount Studios really didn’t “All the returning aircraft Hunter, 16, earned his Eagle know what they were asking are holding overhead the carrier Scout rank in November. Both for,” Whitey said, “so they at different altitudes, and as accomplishments bring a huge asked AV8RSTUFF to consult soon as they launch the next smile to Whitey’s face when for them unofficially to ensure wave of ‘birds’ for the next mentioned. authentic items would be sent to cycle and get all the aircraft As to how the Whites them to cover what they needed ground equipment gear out of came to reside in the North for accuracy. the way, anywhere from 20 to Georgia Mountains, before “Maverick is not an Air 25 airplanes just start winding Whitey retired from the military, Force pilot, he’s a Navy Captain down like a corkscrew. You the family would travel in their in this movie, so we tailored come in for the ‘break,’ drop RV to vacation in the area. all the backdrop stuff to be the gear and land. Not a word They loved it so much that they representative of what he would is spoken on the radio.” bought a home in Blairsville in have gone through in his career. Once all the aviators are 2008, moving here full time in We provided a large majority of proficient at carrier operations, 2011 and opening a warehouse the background stuff used in the landings usually occur one to operate their business out of movie, as well as many of the after another about every 45 Union County. items worn by the characters.” to 50 seconds under extremely Having been successful Added Whitey, “Initially, high-stress conditions that are in his military endeavors, he they were asking for a hodge- hard for most people to fathom, now focuses on his religion, his podge of items to include Whitey said. family, his civic organizations/ U.S. Air Force items and Not only is the ship community, and his friends. Navy SEAL patches. After we bobbing up and down in the Whitey is very involved figured out what it was for, we waves, but the runway is canted locally, serving as an assistant gave them the option of using 11 degrees to port and the carrier Scoutmaster for BSA Troop AV8RSTUFF as one of their is moving 20-25 mph through 101 under Chris Payne; as past consultants, advising that, ‘If the water, meaning “you have Worshipful Master of Allegheny you are wanting authenticity, to anticipate where it’s going to Masonic Lodge No. 114 and this is what you need to wear be so you can land there.” current Grand Tyler of Georgia and display.’” “It’s some of the most for Grand Master Johnie M. All told, AV8RSTUFF fun stuff you could ever do,” Garmon; and as an active supplied approximately 5,000- Whitey said. “I was fortunate to member of various veterans’ plus pieces of memorabilia for have 239 landings on different service organizations. the film, and though the company boats, 195 of which were on “While I wish I was still won’t appear in the credits, it has the USS Enterprise, the carrier going Mach 1 with my hair on received recognition from the used in the original ‘TOP GUN’ fire, Father Time and too many studio as an official supplier for movie. G-forces have taken their toll on “TOP GUN: MAVERICK.” “Seventy-five of those this old body, so I had to retire Needless to say, Whitey is landings were at night. and fly a desk now,” Whitey extremely excited to watch the Nighttime operations around the said. sequel to the movie he’s seen boat are extremely challenging But to this day, anytime probably 150 times now, and and usually scare the living someone mentions military not simply because his company daylights out of you.” aviation to him, they catch that had a hand in its making. When After the Intruders were twinkle in his eye and see that “TOP GUN” premiered in retired in 1997, Whitey was fire in his heart come roaring May of 1986, it was an instant chosen to participate in the Air back as if he’d never left the naval and aviation cultural Force “exchange program,” cockpit. phenomenon. where he flew combat missions That’s why, coupled with The high-octane action in the F-15E Strike Eagle in his unique military career and drama went on to gross $837 northern Iraq. The F-15E could the influence of the original million adjusted for inflation, perform long-range strikes, “TOP GUN” movie on his inspiring along the way a ground attacks and air-to-air path, working on the sequel patriotic fervor among the combat. has meant so much to him, and citizenry that aided military Chosen for this program it was a particularly special recruitment efforts across the for his air-to-ground background, moment when he received a country. he excelled in that arena, but the commemorative “TOP GUN: One of the areas that got most challenging aspects were MAVERICK” coin as a thank some of the biggest response the “air-to-air” roles, which you from for his was , thanks to he described as incredibly contributions to the movie. Maverick, Goose, Iceman and exciting, especially basic fighter AV8RSTUFF’s work on Hollywood’s “need for speed” maneuvers commonly known as “TOP GUN: MAVERICK” as fighter pilots flying combat “dogfighting.” has opened the doors for more missions over the Pacific waters In 2000, after his exchange set-consulting opportunities, for the U.S. Navy. tour was complete, Whitey including for the new “Magnum Whitey was one of those transferred to the Georgia Air P.I.” TV show and other projects young men who saw the film National Guard at Robins Air through NBC, Netflix, Gerber and knew he wanted to fly in Force Base and began flying Knives and others. the Navy. He was in college the B-1B Lancer, the USAF’s “Everyone talks about when the movie hit theaters, premiere long-range bomber, how Hollywood is so anti- and though he didn’t join the able to carry 84 x 500-pound military and anti-conservative, Navy until 1991, seeing “TOP bombs internally. but the ones that I’ve interacted GUN” definitely altered his When the B-1’s were with love the military,” Whitey career path. replaced with the E-8C Joint said. “They are as patriotic as At the time, Whitey was STARS surveillance aircraft, those you would find in the studying to become an aerospace Whitey transitioned to the historically conservative regions engineer for a hopeful career as “Battle Management” role, anywhere.” an astronaut. Because of “TOP commanding forces in theater Looking back over his GUN,” he decided to serve his during flight operations. He extensive military career and the country by choosing Naval remained with the Air National totality of his life experiences, Aviation over other branches, Guard until retiring in 2012, Whitey has some advice for such as Army Aviation – his two deploying for eight Middle East all who would hear, no matter brothers were Army pilots. tours and accumulating over where they hail from around Following college 5,000 flight hours. the nation. graduation, Whitey put his Whitey flew in over “Get involved in engineering degree to immediate two dozen aircraft in military something, whatever that might use by working on the Navy’s training and operations, and he be, and give it your utmost,” proposed A-12 Avenger II stealth was able to fly for all 20-plus Whitey said. “Do your best, bomber before the project was years of his career, becoming the be the standard, and always be scrapped in ‘91. only person in history to have willing to lend a hand. It will Not wanting to stay in been combat-rated in all three make our country great again!” a cubicle for decades as an of those attack/fighter planes: