Memphian and Frayser born Lt. Col (ret) Pat Hobday recounts growing up and attending SkyVew Academy as well as Memphis State University where he was involved in Air Force ROTC and earned his bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. After college, he started his 25 year Air Force career in California where he trained as a navigator. He was stationed at numerous bases across the US and overseas during his career. In 1991 while at Barksdale AFB in Bossier City, LA, Pat was involved in a top secret mission entitled "Operation Secret Squirrel" which involved 7 B-52 bombers and 57 aircrew members flying into Iraq, kicking off “Operation Desert Storm". At the time, it was the longest combat mission ever flown. After 35 hours, launching 35 Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missiles, flying over 14,000 miles and receiving 5 air refuelings, the 7 B-52s landed safely home at Barksdale AFB. Pat retired from the Air Force in 2010 and after working for Boeing, he retired to South Carolina in 2021 where he lives with his wife Jackie of almost 12 years.
