How a Non-Flying Job Prepared Stormy to Fly the U-2 | Stormy Boudreaux Interview Part TWO 

Stormy, someone once told me that pilots just think those planes are theirs, but the truth is, that maintenance just lets them fly them. You just verified that statement. I'm sure your humility and acknowledgement is appreciated. Mover, you've done it again. Waiting patiently for part 3.👍🇺🇸💜

@Stormy, Thank you for your kind words for us enlisted, especially the maintainers.

Want to say thanks to Mover for doing these great interviews.

Brought back a lot of memories. I was at Webb AFB in Big Spring TX and Randolph AFB when Stormy was at Del Rio. Did PIT at Tyndall. Second to the last class there as I recall.

Half an 'oua went by like nothing. Especially interesting hearing about the F-15's radar teething problems. Can't wait to hear more on the Dragon Lady in the next part.

Such a great human. You can fell how humble he is by hearing everything he’s been gone through - from fireballs in Vietnam, to adoption challenges to cold Alaska, but always with positive attitude, no complains, serving his country in the best way possible. We need more people like you sir.

Stormy needs to tell his story about scheduling cross county over nights in the T-38 and always staying at Navy bases. When you call and schedule quarters as Capt Boudreaux they assume O6 Captain. When he would pull into the VAL line they would roll out the red carpet, car and driver, and give him the big O6 rooms. I loved that story.

Uh oh we're starting to get into the U2, Mover's going to trigger the flat earther's again.

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed hearing Stormy give some love to the enlisted airmen. Thank you!

The engine-out training sounds exactly like what we did in RAF Basic Flying Training on the Bulldog single-prop trainer. Engine Failure After T/O was a regular (EFATO) but on any sortie you had to be ready to practice a forced landing and it taught you to always be aware of suitable landing areas and your wind vector as well, as Stormy says, of being very conscious of how the airplane felt and the effect of manoevre on rate of descent. We'd overshoot at 500ft if not actually over a proper strip but it was a great feeling of satisfaction to get it right. And so nice to know that personnel management in the USAF has so much in common with that in the RAF.

Ahhh... The Needs of the Air Force. :-) How I Remember wading through that bureaucratic quagmire. Except for the ptsd and agent orange, some of the best years, most fun, and interesting experiences of my life... so far...

I could listen to these interviews ALL day

Wow, great interview Mover, many thanks to Stormy for sharing the stories us average folk can only dream about. Flying the T-33, or P-80 Shooting Star, is really connecting with the beginning of the jet age, living history, I could listen all day.

As a former maintenance troop....Kudos to Stormy for recognizing the efforts of the enlisted folks.

More on AIMVAL/ACEVAL from participants would be nice. The Navy's AIM-95 Agile design was a thrust-vectoring high-off-boresight missile with a helmet mounted sight - in the mid 70s, and it got cancelled. I think that was one of the dumber decisions made, but I wonder if participants may have more to say on the missile and the cancellation decision that could put it into better context.

I am SO hooked on this guy :) Thanks Mover for bring Stormy to us! Stormy thank you for sharing your experiences with us :)

My the best channel ... loved 🥰

OSAN - base KOREA ... every days... take off U2s.

I have been eagerly waiting for part 2. Thank you so much.

Rated supplement: At Little Rock in 1975 a BUNCH of 0-5s at 308th Strategic Missile Wing, but NOT as Missile Crew. They had their own office symbol... ADO/XS. because they were EXCESS. They played golf with the DO.

Epic video!!! Thanks for sharing these stories!

@Mover. My father was stationed in Del Rio the same time period as a T-37 IP. Wonder if they knew each other? My fathers call sign was "Guff", if you could ask "Stormy" I would appreciate it Mover.

Tundra poppies=drums full of $&!t :) that came from outhouse, coasting around the arctic ice on their way to Russia.

TOMCATS!..er.wrong video.. er, uh..SPY PLANE!

CW and Stormy, I've been watching this series, out of order, and I have found it to be very fascinating. I can't thank you enough for putting this together.

Mover the look on your face when another pilot talks about (for example) 1 knot is a thousand feet of runway longer, is amazing I can see the cars in your head trying to imagine yourself in that position. I'm not a pilot but I probably have the same look as I listen to these stories all the time. I've been in Avionics since 1977 to 2011. so I enjoy some of the stories of the "rumors" I heard over those times and what really happened.

Wow it is really great to see Major Boudreaux again. I was in the U-2 Autopilot shop at Beale while he was there. There were so very interesting debriefs with there.

Wow! This is so great! Thank you for everything!!

Where did you find this guy, I'm not a pilot but I could listen to Stormy for days!

I was stationed at Osan and supported the U-2S...awesome assignment

I spent most of my at-sea time aboard one boat out of Pearl. During my tenure aboard there was a change of command, who was an O-5 that had been a Plank-Owner. I was a 19 year-old Petty Officer who (I'd like to think, at least) performed his duties with skill and competence. The conditions aboard a submarine necessarily put enlisted crew in close contact with officers, including the command staff. Apparently I made an impression, as, during a crew reunion a few years ago, The Captain recognized me on sight and greeted me as a long-lost friend. Since then, our wives have met- and get along famously- and we regularly travel to their home to spend time with them. My Father passed away more than 5 years ago, but I feel as if I still have a father- my Captain, who led us through some adventures I still can't talk about. Yes, the bond between Officer and Enlisted is real and good...........................

Thanks also for mentioning the enlisted people. It means a lot to us

I still waiting on the manual to understand all the jargon

you have some interesting and fun interviews thanks Mover . Could listening Stormy for a long time !

Outstanding

Thanks for the shout-out to all us maintainers.

Enjoying another great interview.

What an incredible story this hero has. Thank you Sir!

Great interview. Keep them coming. He is the best type of officer, one that appreciates the enlisted personnel that help keep him alive. Former AF SSgt

stormy is very interesting to listen to great stories.

I was stationed at Tyndall from 1999 - 2002.

Great interview as usual mover

When I was a sophomore in high school, we were stationed at Wright Pat from 1970-1972 before moving to Randolph. I was upset because Texas had a rule that a person moving in from out of state couldn't play varsity football unless they were a senior. I didn't understand why military families wouldn't be exempt until my dad explained that MPC was located in San Antonio. I don't know when Stormy was at Randolph, but my dad flew T-39s from 1972 to 1975 out of Randolph. He was also the commander of base ops when he was there (actually, that was the reason for the reassignment.) Terrific interview.

Mover, as a fellow Louisianian, you really should have Stormy back for parts 4, 5, 6, and 7, at least. God bless, Rob.

Love this guys, thanks so much!!

Great stuff !

Love your interview series!

Love to get your take on the Denver UNITED 328 situation. Looked fuckin' crazy!