Artist Shows Major Mike Kerby During His Solo Flight In Bogota During A Thunderbird Performance. Major Mike Kirby was assigned as commander of the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing at Nellis Air Force Base in August 1981 and subsequently commanded the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis from May 1982 to May 1984. The 57th Fighter Weapons Wing included the Air Force Fighter Weapons School; Red Flag; fighter weapons test, evaluation and tactics development; adversary threat training; the Aggressors; and the Thunderbirds. Maj Mike Kirby eventually progressed in his career to Maj Gen Kirby Vice Commander an Chief of Pacific Air Forces in 1987.