The lone Canadian team defeated six U.S. Air Force contingents in the biennial Top Gun competition for fighter pilots from the two nations, a Canadian Forces spokeswoman said Monday.
The U.S. team included members of the 388th Fighter Wing and 419th Fighter Wing (reserve) from Hill Air Force Base. Two of the 388th team were members of an Air Combat Command team that placed second in the competition.It is the first time a Canadian team has won the William Tell Air-to-air Weapons Meet since the event named for the legendary Swiss archer began in 1954. The competition was held last Wednesday through Saturday at this Florida Panhandle base.
A Canadian pilot, Capt. Steve Nierlich of Toronto, won the Top Gun award for the best individual score in aerial combat competition that included firing live missiles at unmanned drones and aerial duels against piloted drones that were scored electronically.
The second-place finisher was Capt. Dan Daetz, of Sunnyvale, Calif., stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, about 50 miles west of Tyndall.
Daetz was part of the Air Combat Command team, which also placed second in the team standings. The ACC team had two pilots each from Eglin's 33rd Fighter Wing and the 388th Fighter Wing.
The Canadians took home the Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Fighter Interceptor Team Award, named for the Pensacola native who became the first black officer to achieve the rank of four-star general in the U.S. military.
The Canadians were the only team flying the F-18 Hornet. The U.S. teams flew F-15C Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons.