Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame

Declaration of Enshrinement

November 9, 2013

Gaillard R. Peck, Jr.

On April 1, 1977, US Air Force Colonel Gaillard R. Peck, Jr., launched CONSTANT PEG to revitalized the art of dogfighting.

The unit, which became the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron “Red Eagles” flew MiG-17, MiG-21 and MiG-23 aircraft, restored to flying status and expertly maintained by technicians every bit as skilled as the pilots. Colonel Peck put the program together, from concept to airfield construction and served as the first commander of the “Red Eagles” at the Tonopah Test Range.

This incredible effort using covertly acquired Soviet-built aircraft prepared American fighter aircrews for aerial combat by using carefully selected US fighter pilots, specially trained in Soviet tactics, to fly these aircraft from the remote Tonopah Test Range airfield in central Nevada. The CONSTANT PEG program provided training that allowed US aircrews to be better prepared to win air combat engagements.  Aircrews engaged in mock air combat against a unit that looked like the enemy and flew like the enemy.

For his work on a once highly-classified Air Force program code-named CONSTANT PEG, US Air Force Col Gaillard R. Peck, Jr., earned his place in the Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame.

 

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TD BARNES, Executive Director

Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame