Hobby Master Archive

Major Neil Eddins was slot man with the USAF Aerial Demonstration Team (Thunderbirds) based at Nellis AFB from April 1959 to April 1961. After several other assignments and a tour of Vietnam that saw him fly over 100 combat missions Eddins returned to the US to become commander and lead pilot for the Thunderbirds in January 1967. After many more assignments and military colleges Neil Eddins was promoted to Major General on August 1, 1981. He retired from the military in 1984 but not before having flown over 5,600 hours and accumulating the DSM, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, DFC with 14 oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal and Combat Readiness Medal.