Why We Fly - May 2022

Today, it is our distinct honor to fly John "Lucky" Luckadoo, who flew 25 bombing missions in B-17 Flying Fortresses over France and Germany between June and October 1943 in the “Bloody 100th” Bomb Group. Honoring these men is #WhyWeFly.

While Red Nose was in Macon last weekend flying ride flights along with our friends from the CAF Gulf Coast Wing's B-17 Texas Raiders and Commemorative Air Force SB2C Helldiver, we gave a ride in the P-51 to Mr. Richard Gambill. Richard is the son of Bill Gambill, a P-51 pilot in WWII, who served alongside Chuck Yeager and Bud Anderson. Bill was hit by flack over Germany while escorting B-17s to their target. They were met by ME-109s, 3 of which Bill attacked. Bill survived being shot down and captured, but while being processed as a POW, his location was attacked by British bombers. Bill was killed in that bombing raid. Our Mustang pilot, Alan Miller gave Richard an appropriate ride, narrating everything he was doing and talking about the plane, etc. At the end of Richard’s ride, Alan said, "I’ll be quiet now and leave you some moments of silence in our P-51, so you can talk to your dad!" This is #WhyWeFly.

This month at the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center, young Madison attended A is For Aerospace, a program for Pre-Kindergarten-age students to learn more about aviation. Looks like young Madison was already inspired – see her future goal is to be a pilot. Inspiring young people through flight is #WhyWeFly.

The B-17 Texas Raiders flew four World War II veterans in Savannah as part of the Flags for the Fallen program, in conjunction with the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Many reenactors were on hand to take some great photos and add to the experience. Bringing history to life is #WhyWeFly.