Event

American MiG Pilot: Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles” MiG Squadron by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Rob “Z-Man” Zettel is a book detailing his experiences flying Soviet MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighters in the USAF’s secret “Constant Peg” program during the Cold War.

On Saturday July 11th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport will host “Z-Man” as he recalls his first-person, cockpit-level account of the risks and realities of training against these adversary aircraft, providing an insider’s view of the top-secret unit that trained U.S. fighter pilots to fight the MiGs they would face in combat.  

Weather, operations, and maintenance permitting, CAF SoCal will fly one of our warbirds for you. So, come join us on July 11th to hear author Rob Zettel share his “I was there” story of his intimate involvement in this highly classified (at the time) fighter pilot training program. Recently published in February 2026, “Z-Man” will have copies of his book available for sale.

Date: July 11th, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM
Venue: CAF Museum, 455 Aviation Drive, Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, CA 93010

CLICK HERE For Information & Tickets

The Commemorative Air Force of Southern California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and while admission to the museum is always free, donations help us preserve aviation history.

On Saturday, May 30th, the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport hosted Royal Navy pilots Commander Stephen ‘Lothar’ Collins, Officer Commanding the 17th Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) at Edwards Air Force Base, and Lieutenant Commander Mark ‘Hux’ Huxtable, 17 TES Test Pilot. Lothar and Hux shared stories of modern UK F-35B carrier ops, the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group ‘21 cruise, and an F-35B ejection off the carrier (by one of our presenters). 

Regrettably, due to the sensitivity of their operations and active status, we were asked not to record this event. Thank you for understanding.

The Commemorative Air Force of Southern California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and while admission to the museum is always free, donations help us preserve aviation history.

They were crop dusters and debutantes, college girls and performers in flying circuses – all of them trained as pilots. Because they were women, they were denied the opportunity to fly for their country when the United States entered the WWII. But Great Britain, desperately fighting for survival, would let anyone – even Americans, even women-transport warplanes.  On Saturday February 28th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport hosted author Becky Aikman as she followed the stories of nine of the women who served, drawing on unpublished diaries, letters, and records, along with her own interviews, to bring these forgotten heroines fully to life in her vivid, richly detailed account of war, ambition, and a group of remarkable women.  Becky Aikman shared the heart-pounding true story of the daring American women who piloted the most dangerous aircraft of World War II through the treacherous skies of Britain.

Below is a link to the presentation’s program.

‘Spitfires’ Program 02/28/2026