RB Historical Society to Honor Military Pioneers at Pancake Festival

The Rancho Bernardo Historical Society will honor a former U.S. Navy aviator and one of the first female combat helicopter pilots during its annual Pancake Festival at the Bernardo Winery on Saturday.

The announcement:

Each Memorial Day at the annual Pancake Festival, The Rancho Bernardo Historical Society honors local military notables who have served their country. This year there are two honorees – Vice Admiral Walter J. Davis, Jr. and Lt. Commander Mona Hogan.

Vice Admiral Walter Davis served for 37 years as an aviator with Navy, accumulated over 3,500 flight hours and received numerous Metals and Honors including Navy’s Grey Eagle and three Legion of Merits. Davis grew up in Winston Salem, North Carolina, graduated from The Ohio State University in 1959 as an Electrical Engineer and later earned a Masters degree in Aeronautical Electronics.  Serving on tours of combat duty in both Vietnam and Iraq, he flew F-4 and F-14 fighter jets and was a test pilot and Navy Engineer for the F-14.  During his career, Davis was Executive Officer of USS Kitty Hawk, and Commanded the USS Sacramento and the USS Ranger.   Assigned to Washington DC, he served as Director, Naval Warfare Systems and in 1994, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Space, Information Warfare, Command and Control, N6. Davis was stationed in San Diego three times and proudly remembers his Squadrons the VF-143 “Pukin Dogs” and the VF-114 “Aardvarks”.  Retired in 1999, he and his wife have two daughters and four grandchildren.  Hobbies include a 1955 MG and volunteer work including serving on Boards and helping start-up companies.

Lt. Commander Mona Hogan will be honored at the Pancake Festival for her ground breaking role as one of the first Navy female combat helicopter pilots. Hailing from Oklahoma, she grew up watching the pilots train over Tinker Air Force Base.  After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, she entered the Navy and was selected to fly the SH-60F (Anti-Submarine Warfare) and the HH-60H (Combat Search and Rescue) helicopters.  Mona flew helicopters until 2000 when she became the “Mini-boss” (Assistant Air Officer) on  the USS Bonhomme-Richard (Amphibious Carrier) where she ran the flight deck and directed both Navy and Marine aircraft within five miles of the ship.  This was during the beginning phases of the combat operations of Operation Desert Freedom (the war in Iraq and Afghanistan).  During much of her career, she was stationed at North Island in San Diego.  Mona separated from the military in 2002 and lives in Rancho Bernardo with her husband and twin children.  She works as a field consultant for the 7/11 corporation. 

Please come by and say hello to these outstanding military leaders at the Pancake Festival on Saturday, May 26 from 8 a.m.-12 noon at the Bernardo Winery.