nice idea.
i would suggest another character.
Thomas "Reaper" Wright
former USN pilot in the korean conflict, he joins the mercs in 1959, at the beginning of the war.
his usual ride is a F-8B crusader, that he will later change to a Phantom II F-4J (later again an F-4S)
he will die at the end of the second dhimari war (burning sands 1983)
strange subject, always calm and relaxed, but also a bit asocial. he prefers planes to people.
David "Ratchet" Sevour will become his crew chief, and firend.
he has frequent contacts with his motherland, and in the peace period between the two wars he goes back to the US and gets married.
he will get back to dhimar in 1983, 3 years after the birth of his son, but he won't come back.
you can place it as a side character.
since it seems to be also older than the others, you can define him as his mentor.
another thing, how about selections and simulated dogfights to choose the pilots that will form the squadron?