Three representatives of the 69th – Capts. Avery Wilson, Daniel Hunt and Jimmy Weaver – unveiled banners with the names of the cubs at the zoo’s International Tiger Day celebration July 29.

The names for the two female cubs are Buffy and Afkai, and the male cubs’ names are Brogan and Koshmar.

Capt. Robert Quandahl said donations from the 69th’s members “was how we got here today.”

The zoo announced in early July the public could help give names to the tiger cubs while supporting the zoo’s conservation efforts. All proceeds will support the Roosevelt Park Zoo Foundation and its mission to protect endangered species through conservation efforts.

Submitted Photo One of the four Roosevelt Park Zoo’s Amur tiger cubs is shown several days after its birth on May 19.

Explaining how they came up with the names of the tiger cubs, Quandahl told a large crowd at the zoo “the Buff” is the name of the B-52, the plane that the 69th flies, and Buffy is the more feminine name. He said Afkai was a term used in World War II before the bombers got their call signs and were awaiting a mission. He said Brogan is the name of a famous pilot, Mike Brogan, who is a hero to all B-52 people and the longest serving and most decorated B-52 pilot in history.

Quandahl also said to bring the Russian Amur tigers, the B-52s and Minot together, they chose the name Koshmar, which is Russian for “nightmare,” and is the slogan of the squadron and booster club – “We make nightmares.”

“We turned that into Koshmar for the name of the largest male cub,” Quandahl said. He said that cub is “a bit of a pesky child and a nightmare for zoo staff and zoo keepers.”

Other events held at the zoo’s International Tiger Day celebration included crafts, keeper chats, a bounce house and educational enrichment tables.