LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va –
The 94th Fighter Squadron burned a piano in a traditional ceremony Aug. 19, 2011, as part of the four-day 94th anniversary celebration that started Aug. 18.
Although there are several stories of why the piano was burned, Capt. Jonathan Smith, 94th FS assistant director of operations, explained the history given during the celebration came from the Royal Air Force during World War II in the Battle of Britain.
"Every squadron had a piano player and if the piano player was killed in action, that evening they would roll the piano outside to the back of the mess and burn [it] in celebration of [the deceased pilot's] life," said Smith.
The 94th FS torched the piano on the flightline under the watchful eyes of the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron's Fire Department. All Spads, former and current, were invited to attend the event.
SPAD refers to the French biplane, fighter aircraft used in World War I by the 94th FS, where 1st Lt. Edward Rickenbacker, named America's "Ace of Aces" during the war, was credited with 26 of the squadron's 70 kills during World War I.
"We found most of the former Spads from a hardwood bar top in the heritage room that all Spads signed their name to when they left the squadron," said Capt. Matthew Tromans, 94th Fighter Squadron C-flight commander. He said this gave them names all the way back to the 1950s.
According to Tromans, the 94th FS is one of the most historic squadrons with some of the richest history in the Air Force. They are also flying one of the most amazing planes in the Air Force right now, the F-22 A Raptor.
The 94th anniversary celebration not only included the piano burning, but also dinner and a baseball game at Harbor Park in Norfolk, a golf scramble, and a formal dining out at the Crowne Plaza in Hampton.
The 94th Fighter Squadron, the country's second oldest fighter squadron, has been associated with air dominance since 1917.