Pilot Randall Staudenraus returns to Peninsula a hero

LONG BEACH – Randall Staudenraus didn’t think he would ever fly into Group Astoria’s Air Station again.

Staudenraus, a major in Maryland’s Air National Guard, landed his A-10 Warthog fighter jet before a couple of hundred adoring young fans from Hilltop School Friday after putting on a breath-taking and ear-splitting demonstration of flying maneuvers.

Maj. Staudenraus and another pilot arrived in Astoria in A-10 jets in preparation for participating in the Loyalty Day fly-over to kick off Sunday’s parade. In 1989 Staudenraus was stationed at Group Astoria where he received some of his early flight training.

“I helped carve the totem pole (that still is on display) in 1973 when I was going to Hilltop school,” Staudenraus explained to the students when they were allowed to leave the hanger at the Air Station and come out to see his A-10 close up.

“I went to Hilltop, and Long Beach school, and graduated from Ilwaco High School,” he shared with the students. “I graduated from WSU and took a year of flight training. Education is important. You can’t fly one of these babies unless you get an education.”

His parents, Dale and Margaret, and other family members were also in the audience. He was reunited with wife Sarah (formerly Gonzales) who also graduated from Ilwaco High School, and his four-year-old daughter Regan.

Staudenraus, who was in the U.S. Air Force for 15 years, has flown missions in three wars.

“I fought in Desert Storm, with the allied forces at Kosovo, and in Iraqi Freedom. I have had some little holes put in my plane,” he explained to the audience, “but I’m tougher than the bad guys who shot at me and I came back.”

He went on to say he has flown missions in a T-37, an F-15E, and in an F-16. “I’ve shot several bad guy tanks with people who were trying to take out our good guys,” he explained when asked if he had ever been in battle.

Sarah said, “When Randy is in combat I watch CNN just like the rest of America. My bosses have allowed me to take a TV to work so I can keep up on what is happening. When he was in Iraq this last time I was able to receive e-mail from him. That helped.”

A frightening moment for his family – and many on the Peninsula – occurred when they received news of an F-16 being shot down during Desert Storm. Staudenraus’ F-16 survived, but two of his fellow pilots were killed in the enemy action.

“Of our 15 years of marriage, Randy has been in stationed away from me for about five of them,” Sarah said.

The couple has lived in England, Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C. Staudenraus plans on staying in the military for another 10 years and then becoming a commercial pilot in “retirement”.

“We want to return to the Pacific Northwest when I leave the military,” Randall said. “On my way here I flew low by Mount Rainier and then up the Columbia Gorge. The flight was absolutely awesome, the best scenery in the entire country.”

The A-10 is a thirty-year-old fighter plane that is known for its maneuverability and fire power. It can travel up to 450 mph, but can come in much slower and at low elevations to support troops on the ground and hit enemy targets at close range.

The A-10 has a machine gun that can fire 4,000 rounds of 50-caliber shells per minute and is capable of firing missiles as well. The 40,000 pound aircraft has an extremely tight turning radius and can climb virtually straight up in seconds.

During a light moment Staudenraus told the students he has hobbies just like them. His remark of, “This is my Play Station II,” brought a laugh from everyone as he pointed up to the massive A-10. The major became very serious when he explained that he could not autograph the small American flags the students were waving. “That would be defacing our flag.”

Staudenraus was also serious when talking of his experience in combat.

“We are professionals and we have a job to do and we are very good at it,” he proudly said of his missions. “Right now I am going to help out in Afghanistan, but from what I hear is going on in Iraq I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to go there and help protect our troops.”

For this weekend, however, Randall Staudenraus will spend time with his wife and daughter, with family, and friends. He will fly over the Loyalty Day Parade that has as its theme “Patriotic Sacrifice Preserves Our Freedom” before returning to more perilous duty.

“When this baby is going at full throttle, the Peninsula looks like a pretty small place,” Staudenraus explained to his young audience. In a world that seems to have also gotten much smaller, he continues to serve very well, making it a place where we have the freedom to safely wave the American flag with pride.