Gordon "Gordy" Fornell A-1 Zorro Pilot Interview

A fun and fascinating interview with Gordon "Gordy" Fornell, what a flying career, this video is a must-watch.

[@jamespahlsson8133]

This should be shown in all schools When I was a youngster in Sweden, I first saw the Douglas skyraider towing a target. Little did I know what a warrior that it was. Thank you for service. The many books of how you saved so many special ops soldiers and downed pilots. Makes me get tears in my eyes. So that others may live Thank you again for making our country so proud. God bless you Jim

[@frankhinkle5772]

I had to rewatch this episode again, just because Mr. Fornell is such a gentleman and I enjoy listening to him. Welcome home Mr. Fornell.

[@thomasfunk4853]

My father was at NKP at the same time this hero was flying his missions. Dad was EOD and served 3 tours in Southeast Asia

[@milesdee1806]

He comes across as one genuine and very nice man. Thanks you Gordy for sharing your story......

[@michaelland9667]

Gordy, I had the pleasure of meeting Jack and Roger at Cavanaugh Flight Museum several years ago. I was At NKP , Oct 68 -Nov 69 working ATC both RAPCON and Tower. The most memorable voice was Zorro 50, Col. Bebbe.I also had my 'bucket list' experience flying right seat in the A-1E about 4 years ago. Just returned from the NKP reunion in Charlotte .about 3 weeks ago.The memories are priceless. I very much enjoyed your interview. We must have talked more than once at NKP.

[@dennisdecker9507]

I was stationed at NKP between April '68 and May '69 with the 56 SOW working at TUOC. Gordy you and I probably had several debriefings sessions after your missions during our stay there. Thanks for the interview.

[@tombutcher5776]

I was stationed at NKP from Dec72-Jan74. 56 Trans Sq. (TMO) at the aerial port.

[@grouchydropbear3981]

Gordy, you and I had some overlap. I was an E-3 in the 556th CES RED HORSE Squadron May of '68 to May '69.

[@rogermoseley7554]

Gordy was a great commander. When I worked for him in the Pentagon in 1975, he said "I know you don't know anything, captain, but I'm out of people" so he gave me a $300M program that became quite controversial, but he let me keep it when other senior officers wanted the visibility. In 1990 at Hanscom, I had a slightly bigger job, about $16B, and once again it was great working for him. He always had your back. I remember he had one rule "you can make any mistake and I'll cover for you, but don't make the same mistake twice."

[@militarytales]

Gordy is a truly humble man, We got to see each other again at this years Skyraider Reunion

[@craigcook1571]

Thank you sir for your service, and thanks to the video team for keeping what they did alive👍🏻 my dad was there from 66-68

[@edwardhuett7924]

Was a zorro crewchief in 69.

[@frankhinkle5772]

Watched it for a 3rd time, just to hear Mr. Fornell speak.

[@Rebel-Rouser]

Dude these guys are amazing heros . Thank you so much for bringing their stories to light.

[@doughudgens9275]

It’s great to hear the origination story of the Zorros. By the time dad (MAJ Edward Hudgens) was there, I was told they broke up night flying missions to all 3 squadrons.

[@Cinebar2]

Wow..I was a crew chief stationed at Udorn working on F-4D's 1968-69. I remember an A1E we parked in a revetment and loved this old plane. At one point I found that our HH53's would allow rides on ferry missions and took one to NKP with an engine for a Huey. First off I had no idea how cold it gets at 1000+ feet wearing only fatigues, no jacket and no windows and I think the rear ramp was down on the HH53. Then we arrive and NKP. Impression...what a shit hole...PSP taxi ways, mud every where. Blacked out A26's is all a saw. So glad I wasn't stationed there!! Really enjoyed listening to Gordy Fornell. Neat guy!

[@Error_404_Account_Deleted]

Welcome Home, Gordy. Thanks for all you did.

[@Whitesp44]

Humble! What an amazing group of aviators. My uncle stated that sometimes they flew so low to ID there position he could see them nod at him. Brave and ballsy. Would've liked to hear Gordy speak for hours.

[@militarytales]

Whitesp44 Thank you for your note, We have heard Green berets say on several occasions that the planes were so lo that they made eye contact with the pilots. Gordy, is a fantastic guy. Please feel free to subscribe to the channel, we have many more interviews in the editing bay being processed. As well as a couple trips planned to get more interviews.

[@Whitesp44]

@@militarytales incredible

[@thedude1-wn2ij]

Legend (squared) what a man and pilot 🇺🇸

[@frankhinkle5772]

Great interview. What interesting men.

[@militarytales]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gteefxr3094]

Another great (American/human/hero), thank you so much!

[@edwardhuett7924]

Met Gordon at 738 dedication at usaf museum. True gentlemen our time as zorros overlapped i got there in may 69 he left in August 69. A lot of night flying at that time. Zorros hard pressed at night. Flying on instrument at night was at best. Attention getting. Remember losing a young pilot at end of runway. He cked out in my cockpit during daylight. Then went in that night. Terrible loss.

[@lenwenzel7440]

Great interview!

[@pjhudson5344]

Fantastic !

[@robertmorey4104]

Stud would love to hear those stories. SPAD pilots are awesome.

[@ronaldhines8085]

I knew Sam Flowers. He was from Zebulon, NC. He’s gone now. He was a great guy.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Great video...👍

[@jrhamp]

One of the books from that era including "The Ravens", if I recall correctly. One of the Zero pilots was on search and rescue interacting with the Raven 0-1's. The story involves one of the Zorro pilots was shot up crippling the A-1. He was able to fly back to base ..jumped out and ran over to another A-1 and went back up to continue the rescue effort even though the pilot was out of hours and his plane was damaged. "Brave Men Do" RH/05-11A

[@budgibson185]

Amazing! Live these SPAD pilots

[@militarytales]

Glad you like them! Gordy Fornell is a very interesting gentleman. His interview was very enlightening. Please feel free to subscribe to the channel, we have many more interviews in the editing bay being processed. As well as a couple trips planned to get more interviews.

[@boggy8557]

Fascinating interview. I did not know that they flew Skyraiders at night!? I thought it was a day only operation. I guess no NVGs either? I have heard you ask about "Prairie fire missions" (?) A few times in your interviews. I've not heard of those before, were they very significant?

[@militarytales]

@Boggy, Prairie Fire: the code word used by MACVSOG to identify recon ops into Laos (previously known as Shining Brass) and it was also used by helicopter pilots flying in support of SOG's Recon A team was in imminent danger of being overrun, or was compromised and on the run - the exfil of SOG-assets in an emergency. Here's a link for more information. sogsite.com/prairie-fire/

[@para55a2]

WOW! what am amazing group of pilots! Gordy, thank you! what else can be said?

[@militarytales]

I could not agree more, the men and their stories are amazing. Please feel free to subscribe to the channel, we have many more interviews in the editing bay being processed. As well as a couple trips planned to get more interviews.

[@para55a2]

@@militarytales I subscribed immediately, a very few channels I do subscribe to. I "like" and share with my son! I remember when i was 17 years old taking flight lessons in NJ i saw an inoperable Skyrader on the apron. It was massive (compared to the C-150 I was learning in!) Always had a desire to lean more. Now, with your video i almost feel like I'm in the cockpit, especially listening to these pilots! As for me, I still fly but dream of being in an A-1 !!!! Keep up the good work!!

[@militarytales]

@@para55a2 You will love a project we have coming up in the near future. We are going to film the start up sequence of the A-1.

[@para55a2]

@@militarytales cannot wait, have the alert on

[@Duececoupe]

🫡

[@specag31]

Looks like the Party Suits came out when women were around. Not strange for pilots.