Excerpt
Combat pilots are not born; they are made. They grow-up with heady dreams of flight, seeking always to soar with the eagles. Most pursue nimble fighters to be their swift chariots in the sky. Others prefer something slower, more sedate. Sometimes, circumstances dictate the path they follow on their quest to the clouds.
More than six decades ago, I dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot. I dreamed of pitting newly learned flying skills against a powerful foe in a world wracked by war. As it came to be, I landed the First Pilot’s seat in the best of all heavy bombers ever, built, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
Prior to its introduction in 1935, the sky never saw anything like the B-17 and nothing in the sky will ever compare to this remarkable combat airplane. Of the many thousands of B-17s built during World War II, only a few survive today. These remaining airframes remind us of the heroic sacrifices countless young boys and men made so that we may enjoy our freedom and peace today.
The B-17 was powerful, capable, rugged, forgiving and, yes, fun to fly. This bomber was beloved by pilots and crewmembers alike. More times than not, this “Queen of the Skies” brought her crews home safely with damage that would have downed any other airplane.
I may not have flown a fighter in the greatest global conflict ever fought, but I did fly the greatest heavy bomber of the period, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
As I scan the roster of the fortunate few pilots privileged to fly a B-17 today, I realize I am the last of the 20th century combat World War II B-17 First Pilot or pilot-in-command rated pilots to fly the B-17 Flying Fortress as a pilot-in-command in the 21st century. I am fortunate, indeed.
I couldn’t have done any of it without my wife Billie at my side. She is my strength and my dearest friend. Billie, along with my children, William and Harold Gary, and my grandchildren, Brandi Nicole, Timothy Dean, and Shannon Taylor, are the center point of my life and it has been a good one. We expect the years ahead to be equally exciting and rewarding.
This is my story.
