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PECK, Gaillard Ray (1288)

Parents

Birth

  • Born on October 31, 1940 in San Antonio, Bexar Co., TX

Death

  • Died on October 10, 2024

Marriages

Children

Notes

  • Occupation: USAF Colonel
  • Military Service: Vietnam USAF
  • Death: Cancer
  • Historical Information: Gail Peck in front of his assigned aircraft, F-4D tail number 750, at "Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base" during his tour of Vietnam. The aircraft is named Kayte Baby for his eldest daughter. (Gail Peck Collection). Col Gail Peck, the first commanding officer (CO) of the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES), better known as the MiG-equipped 'Red Eagles', has passed away a few weeks short of his 84th birthday following a brief battle with cancer. The son of USAF Col Gaillard R Peck Snr, Gail followed in his father's footsteps, graduating from the Air Force Academy after finishing top of his class during pilot training. This meant he was initially denied his career goal of a fighter assignment, instead being retained as an instructor. F-4 Phantom II training eventually followed, along with an immediate combat assignment to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing's 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron engaged in the conflict in Vietnam. In 1968\endash 69, Gail flew 163 combat missions from Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, many of which were conducted at night, and he was awarded the Silver Star and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. Gail subsequently served as an instructor in the MiG-17 and later both the F-5E and MiG-21 as a 'Red Eagles' aggressor pilot in the programme known as Constant Peg, having been one of the driving forces behind the formation of this secret unit based in the Nevada desert north of Nellis AFB. Following his spell as the CO of the 4477th TES, his career continued with assignments to Saudi Arabia during the Iran/Iraq War and as an operational F-15 Eagle pilot and commander in Japan. Peck retired from active duty in 1988, after which he worked as an F-15C, F-22 and Special Ops academic instructor at the USAF Weapons School at Nellis AFB. Among numerous other honours, in 2013 he was inducted into the State of Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame. Gail wrote two books for Osprey detailing aspects of his 26-year career with the USAF. The first, America's Secret MiG Squadron, published in 2012, was an insider's view on the formation of the 'Red Eagles'. Sherman Lead followed seven years later, with Gail providing a first-hand 'from the cockpit' account of flying the mighty F-4D Phantom II in combat over Vietnam. I was fortunate enough to edit both of these titles, and during this process I found Gail to be a consummate professional. From what I have read and been told, he was exactly that in the cockpit of a fighter too, be it American or Russian. Godspeed 'Bandit 1'.

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