Herb Thola (D21)

Herb Thola, better known as 'Boomer' is a Colonial Aviator and ace who flies the Viper. He is a quiet and still person on the ground who doesn't get worked up over anything. Logical and learned; he holds a degree in Aeronautics from the Kobol Colleges and speaks Gemenese fluently. His flying style is patient, calculated and no-nonsense and though he can execute taxing turns and spins he takes pride in getting into an optimum attack position by anticipating the enemy and getting his guns pointed where his opponent is flying to- before they know it themselves.

He is a Lieutenant in the Colonial Fleet, assigned to the 'Warriors' Wing. His Service Record includes three years as an instructor.

Quotes
"Flying the Viper is a science you study- don't let Starbuck tell you otherwise because he's something else entirely and most other Viper pilots aren't. So to get to grips with the Viper you gotta go through Flight School, a Training Unit and hours strapped in before they understand how to fully utilise the plane. Once you understand you can start actually implementing that knowledge. A Viper won't forgive you... it's as deadly an enemy of the unready pilot as a Cylon."

- Assigned as a Viper instructor

"A cool head is the natural and magic game changer humanity has over the Cylons... we just need more people to weaponise it. Keep calm; you win the fight or you live to line up against them and win it next time."

- Assigned to a Colonial Flying School

"Came across these flying barrels with wings, stars painted on them and very aggressive... they couldn't climb with us. The three plane section stalled trying to follow our steep ascent and we just turned around and shot 'em up as they fell."

- Combat report against US Navy fighters during the Arrival

Plane
Boomer flies an unmodified Viper with a 'sharks mouth' painted on the nose. Like all Warrior wing planes it has the Colonial Seal on the wings and Federal colours for fin flash.