Scores are based on how close the bomb hits to a target. These are dumb bombs dropped visually, without aid from global positioning systems, or a targeting pod.
The contest is designed to pit raw-pilot skill and natural ability against a target on the ground. The competition is a great way to motivate pilots to enhance their war fighting capabilities; and of course squadron pride is on the line.
The first event, a 45 HARB, involved a high altitude delivery from more than 20,000 feet, where the target appears as nothing bigger than a thumb tack.
The second and third events, a 20 LD and 10 HD, were delivered from a "pop" attack, where the pilot flies at the target 500 feet above-the-ground and 500 knots, then "pops" the aircraft up with a quick climb before diving in at the target and dropping the bomb, then quickly returning to 500 feet and egressing the danger area.
The fourth event was a strafing event, where pilots attempt to hit a strafe pit with practice ammunition from the F-16’s six-barrel machine gun. The score is based on the most hits out of 100 rounds fired.
The Buzzards dropped their bombs and tallied their scores up back in February. The Nickel recently came back from their own TDY to Spain. So, now, the combined results are final. The bulk of the top scores came from the younger pilots in the 510th, showing that experience isn’t always a match for plain natural
For the 45 HARB:
1st place – Capt. Bret "Razor" Rurka, 510th FS
2nd place – 1st Lt. Phil "Sherman" Stein, 510th FS
For the 20 LD:
1st place – 1st Lt. Tony "Scrappy" Marek, 510th FS
2nd place – Capt. Nathanial "Buster" Jaros, 510th FS
For the 10 HD:
1st place – 1st Lt. Keith "Cracker" Carson, 510th FS
2nd place – Maj. Andrew "Mayo" Hecht, 510th FS
For the Strafe:
1st place – Capt. Nathan "Wiz" Graber, 510th FS
2nd place – Capt. Lynn "Riddler" Savage, 510 FS
There is also one last award that is traditional in all Turkey Shoots – the Hamfisted Slinger award. This goes out to the pilot who scored was the worst. This is an award given with a smile and a pat on the back, in jest, since all pilots know that there are good days and bad days … you just hope no one’s around for the latter.
The winner of the 2003 Annual Spring Turkey Shoot Hamfisted Slinger award went to Capt. John "Nut" Peterson. Peterson is the 555th FS weapons officer and is in charge of squadron tactics and staying up-to-date on all of the new systems and weapons being developed for the F-16.
The Turkey Shoot showed that the 510th and the 555th are finely tuned, rock solid units that can be relied upon for massive sortie generation and high tempo operations with minimal maintenance difficulties.
When the time comes to drop ordinance in the field, the Buzzards, and the Nickel, will be ready and able, thanks in part to competitions such as this one.
