Home Contact Information About Me Credits Site Dedication

Home / Plane Captains Roster / Back

Click On Image To EnlargeVMFP-3 Plane Captains 1975-90
By Marc "Devil Dog Of The Web" Iseli / Updated Dec. 2025
If you were lucky enough to pull PC duty after '83, our 'line shack' was basically a rolling sardine can with enough insulation stuffed in the walls to keep a hamster cozy, but not a Marine. The only thing missing was a 'Condemned' sign and maybe a few raccoons squatting rent-free. So step back in time to the line shack, where legends and questionable life choices collided. This is where the unsung heroes, our plane captains, the men and women, who kept the RF-4B Phantom from turning into a smoking crater, performed miracles. These wrench-in-hand Gyrenes were the last line of defense between a pilot and a flaming ejection seat, running pre-flight checks with the precision of a drill instructor on Red Bull. If the bird was mission-ready, you could bet your last can of beer it was because a plane captain said so. Getting certified took about five months, or roughly the time it takes to grow a decent mustache, Marine Corps reg. of course. So here’s a tip of the cammie cover to the VMFP-3 plane captains who kept the recce pigs grunting and the pilots only mildly terrified.



1975 to 1990 Plane Captain Roster
Dedicated to all Enlisted who helped maintain the RF-4B Phantom and served VMFP-3 with honor.

Sgt. Marc E. Iseli
1979-1983
Sgt. Thomas Hotchkiss
1978-1982
SSgt. Timothy Francis
1979-1988
SSgt. Fred Wingo
1980-1983
Sgt. Donald Hurtle
1979-1986
Cpl. Rafael Rios
1970-1983
Cpl. Mark Melthratter 1979-1983 Cpl. Michael G. Metalski
1979-1983
Cpl. Alfredo Carreon
1980-1983
SSgt. Dean Akkerman
1979-1986
Cpl. Kelly R. Scharen
1979-1983
Cpl. Michael T. Grower
1979-1983
Cpl. Ken J. Franco
1979-1983
SSgt. Bobby Karidis
1980-1985
Cpl. Richard "Zane" Krebbs
1977-1981
Cpl. Ricardo R. Lujan
1980-1981
Sgt. Jim Lillie
1980-1985
Cpl. Ron "Recon" Russik
1980-1983
Sgt. Robert Salazar
Unknown
GySgt. Douglas J. Sivigny
1980-1990
GySgt. Emsy L. Furr
Unknown
Cpl. Philip B. Witschi
1988-1990
Sgt. Michael Glass
1985-1989
Cpl. John M. Jennings
1986-1988
LCpl. Ron Kintup
1985-1988
Sgt.Maj. Lou Porras
1983-1987
LCpl. John Papp
1983-1987
LCpl. Toney Rodriques
1984-1987
Sgt. Michael Soler
Unknown
Cpl. Mel Taylor
1983
Cpl. Brad "Big'N" Turner
1985-1988
Cpl. Wendel J. Thomas
Unknown
Cpl. Tom "Oyster" Hoiska
1987-1990
SSgt. Dawn Porras Murray
1984-1989
Cpl. Douglas T. Hanson
Unknown
MSgt. Cameron Anderson
1983-1985
GySgt. Joseph J. Ade
1984-1989
Cpl. Alan Armstrong
Unknown
GySgt. Curtis Ray Allen
1984-1986
Sgt. Joe Barry
1984-1988
Sgt. Brian Brindle
1987-1990
Cpl. Tom Coy
1984-1988
Cpl. Russell S. DaMetz
1987-1990
Cpl. Kai Degner
1983-1987
Cpl. William Dougherty
1984-1987
Sgt. Dennis Tino
1983-1985
Cpl. Rich "Rabbit" McCombs
1982-1984


Alright, you glorious Rat Phixers and Phlyers, if we ever survived a TAD, a Det, or a BOHICA, who haven't, and you didn’t think I was the biggest gaff off in the squadron. Got a sea story, or some grainy photos your ex didn’t set on fire, and they’re only slightly illegal? Send ‘em by email, snail mail, or safety wire it to a carrier pigeon. I collect ‘em all, just nothing that would incriminate me.
80svmfp3@gmail.com


Return To The Home Page





Forum Info Click Here