VMFA-251 Thunderbolts first hornet in the squadron. BUNO 161961, aircraft #1.
VMFA-251 Thunderbolts. Aircraft 01, BUNO 161961. This was the first F/A-18 the Thunderbolts received as they transitioned from the F-4s to the hornet. It was received in 1986.
This is relatively close to what the jet looked like prior to the 1988 WestPac, Though, 161961 left the squadron prior to that deployment.
At the time, the commanding officer was LtCol Robert "Dog" Maddocks. His name is represented on the jet in his honor. He was a FANTASTIC CO! I plan on making the skins for the squadron's 12 jets that did make the deployment. Right now I am trying to get the pilots names and callsigns to document them accurately.
