Pat was born in Buffalo, New York and joined the Air Force in 1968. His first assignment was as aerial cameraman to 1365th photo Sq. Norton AFB in 1969. Lots of exciting TDY’s to Nellis with the F111 weapons testing, the Thunderbirds and nuclear tests at Mercury NV.
In 1970, he was off to Ubon, Thailand as an A/C 130 Spectre Gunship Cameraman. In 1971 he was re-assigned to 1369th Photo Squadron at Vandenberg, CA to cover Minute Man and Titan Missile build up and Launches.
From there he was assigned to Norton AFB, CA Production Unit where he was 1st camera operator for many AF Now segments as and starred in AFN Segment 101 “The enlisted flyer”. After his tour at Norton he was assigned to Hickam, HI in 1978 as an aerial cameraman assigned to the Satellite Recovery Program and eventually, NCOIC of the Doc Unit.
From 1984 until retirement in 1989, Pat was assigned to Wright Patterson as NCOIC of the Technical Photographic Division Video Production Unit.
He says there are way too many great jobs, flights and locations to even try and pick the most fantastic experience.
Mario Candia, Vice President
Mario is a native of Cochabamba, Bolivia. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1964, after a year of being in the United States. After training at Lackland AFB, TDY to Lowry AFB and later attended the Photo School there. Upon graduation, he transferred to the Base Photo Lab, Denver, CO.
In 1966, he was sent TDY to SEA Det 4, 600th photo Sqdn, Cam Ranh Bay. As a Combat-Aerial photographer, he covered several missions; such as Junction City Operation, 439L Submarine Cable Project in the South China Sea to improve communication in the region, covered President Johnson’s visit to Viet-Nam among others. He transferred to help build DET, 16, Phu Cat AFB home of the Famous Super FAC “Misty”. With them, he flew in the F-100D missions.
In 1967, he was assigned to 1365th AAVS, Det, 1 Andrews AFB, Washington D.C. documenting the Air Force role, and some functions at the White House, State Department, Pentagon, Defense Intelligence Agency labs. In 1968, he was honorably discharged. He joined the SD Air National Guard assigned to the Intelligence Section for eight years.
In 1972, joined the Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary of the US Air Force. He holds the rank of Lt.COL, Mission Pilot with several hundred hours of flying time, graduated from National Staff College, Maxwell AFB, National Search and Rescue School taught by the US Cost Guard. He participated in the International Air Cadet Exchange to France and Turkey.
He earned his degree in American Government and International Affairs/Spanish at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD and taught photography at the University while being head of the Photo Lab.
He held a Pilots license and had his own business as Aerial and Commercial Photography.
In 1981, he began working as a (Contract)Escort/Interpreter for the US Department of State traveling throughout United Staes with dignitaries invited by the US government.
In 1991, he began working for the US Department of Justice, as Language Interpreter in the Immigration Court in Chicago, IL and after 20 years retired from the Federal Government.
Marge Barshaw, Secretary
Susan Diomedes, Secretary
Pat Nugent, Treasurer
Barb Zimmerman, Member at Large
Rene Tyron, Member at Large
Renée is a native of Tucson, Arizona and joined the Arizona Air National Guard in 1979 as a still photographer and transferred to the active duty US Air Force the following year and ultimately attained the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. She served in a variety of CONUS, overseas and deployed assignments across the Air Force as a still photographer, aerial videographer and visual information manager at the squadron, detachment and wing level including three assignments with AAVS & Combat Camera: one tour with the 1367th AVS at RAF Lakenheath, UK and two tours with the 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Wright-Patterson and Charleston AFBs. Other highlights include Nellis AFB, NV, the United Kingdom; Okinawa, Japan; Osan AB, Republic of Korea; Hickam AFB, HI; Germany; Italy; Croatia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Afghanistan; Iraq; Qatar and Kuwait.
Renée earned degrees in Audiovisual Production from the Community College of the Air Force and Radio, TV and Film from the University of Maryland. She culminated her Air Force career as the Chief Enlisted Manager of Ninth Air Force and United States Air Forces Central Public Affairs where she oversaw more than 200 deployed USAF public affairs, combat camera, VI and USAF band professionals at 20 expeditionary and joint warfighting installations throughout the US Central Command Area of Responsibility. She retired from the Air Force after 30 years in October 2009.
Mike Potochick, Member at Large
Mike entered active-duty into the Air Force is the second lieutenant and from 1962 to 1964 he was assigned as a production supervisor of commercial films for the Air Force. He was working with commercial film studios in New York, Miami, Chicago, San Antonio and Hollywood for production of films for the Air Force where he was spending approximately 230 days TDY per year with the studios.
From 1964 to 1965 Mike was assigned as commander and the only officer of Air Force Combat photographers in Southeast Asia. He supervised approximately six operating locations in Vietnam and Thailand, acquiring strike and operational Film and stills of all Air Force operations in Southeast Asia. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal and the Commendation Medal.
From1965 to 1967 he was assigned to Lookout Mountain AFS to process and review films and still photos from Southeast Asia and expedited these to the Pentagon.
Jim Pearson, Member at Large
Jim served in the Air Force from 1971 to 1995. He became part of the Aerospace Audiovisual Service/Combat Camera when he was selected in 1977 to attend the Military Photojournalism program at Syracuse University. Upon graduation in 1978 he began his career with AAVS and Combat Camera at Rhein Main AB, Germany. Over the years, he served in numerous locations via PCS and TDYs, including, Norton AFB, CA, Clark AB, Philippines and March AFB, CA until he retired in 1995 at the rank of Master Sergeant.
Upon retirement he took a job as photojournalist and Information Technology Manager for The Messenger Newspaper in Madisonville, Ky. He brought the newspaper from the paste up era into the digital age and won many state and local awards for his photography over the 17 years he worked there until he retired in 2013.
Here’s a list of those who have paid for this years mini-reunion at Hackman’s home.
Zimm Egan
Mary Jane Abare
Jim Pearson
Jose Lopez Jr.
Rick Diaz X2
April Alexander
Gregory Krager
Steve McGill
Ken Hackman
Chris McGill
Judy Daniels X2
Dave Chip
Jesse Rossi X2
Mike Daniels
Rosie Reynolds X2
Judy Daniels
The Signal Depot
Katherine Tyron
Steven Small X2
Kimberly Haggerty
Janelle Gebhardt X2
Scott and Evelyn Stewart
Ken Wright
Attending but haven’t paid yet
Lono Kollars
Rene Tyron
Val and Del Gempis
Brett Snow
Dave Van De Brake
Bob Leach & Judy (Bob’s daughter)
Below is a list of folks who have donated to the pavers fund as of 9/2/24!
Thomas Branscomb
April Alexander
Mary Jane Abare
Chris McGill
Michael Schlatter
Clarence Brown
Patrick Nugent
Dave Chip
Rosie Reynolds
Don Sutherland
Ross Simon
Scott & Evelyn Stewart
Stephen Krant
Jim Pearson
Steve McGill
Jim Shaw
Zimm Egan
Jose Lopez Jr.
Herb Centron
Judy Daniels
Ted Koniares
Ken Hackman
Susan Diomedes
Ken Hamond
Robert Brooks
Kenneth Schaub
Paul Tubridy
Lance Cheung
James Gosney
Robert Smith
Kenneth A Marifke
Georgia Marchbanks
Welcome to our newest Registered users!
Michael Johnson
I was in the Air Force for 22 years and all of them in AAVS units.
Oct. 70 to April 73 at Det. 10, 1361st. Photo Sq. Langley AFB Va. : TDY to Thailand and Vietnam from Dec 72 to March 73 for Linebacker 2 and Operation Homecoming.
May 73 to May 74 at Det. 12, 601st Photo Sq, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB Thailand : July 74 to April 77 at Headquarters AAVS, Norton AFB Ca. : Apr 77 to Feb. 83 at Hq. 1369th AVSq. Vandenberg AFB, Ca., May 83 to August 87 at Det. 13, 1369th AvSq. Los Angeles AFStation Ca. : Sept. 87 to Dec 89 at OL-S Det 5, 1367th AVSq. Incirlik AB Turkey : Jan. 90 to Oct 92 at Det 2, 1360th AVSq. March AFB Ca.
Kent Pearson
Photo Detachment Commander, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, 1971-72; Unit Historian, HQ 601st Photo Sq, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, 1972; Producer/Director, AAVS HQ, Norton AFB, 1972-77.
Donald Miles
Parks Photo Lab, Armament Development and Test Center, Eglin AFB, FL (1973 – 1974)
Det 1, HQ AAVS, Carswell AFB, TX (1974 -1977)
Det 11, 1361 AVS, Andrews AFB, MD (1977-1978)
AFIT Masters Degree Program, Newhouse School of Public Communication, Syracuse University (1978 – 1979)
5049th Broadcasting Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, AK (1979 -1982)
Det 5, 1369 AVS, Elmendorf AFB, AK (1982-1985)
Det 8, 1365 AVS, Hill AFB, UT (1985-1987)
1361 Audiovisual Squadron, Arlington, VA (1987-1989)
Defense Audiovisual Policy Office, American Forces Information Service, Alexandria, VA (1989 – 1992)
HQ Air Combat Camera Service (1992 -1994)
HQ Air Force Space Command (1994 – 2001)
Tony Portello
I was a member of the 1367th Operating Location N at Hahn AB, GE from 1982 to 1986 My name (nick) Tony Portello, and I was the Graphics Technician there.
