NEWPORT NEWS, Va. –
Annually, air shows attract millions of fans hoping to get a glimpse of historic aircraft and modern marvels.
For a group of World War II veterans, the Joint Base Langley-Eustis AirPower over Hampton Roads open house offered a venue for a reunion with a once "famous" U.S. Army Air Corps bomber.
Before staging the restored North American B-25, "Panchito" for the open house, the Disabled American Veterans' Flight Team invited William Chambers, Walter Dandridge and Ben Wainwright to come aboard for an exclusive honor flight.
Overcast skies could not dim the group's enthusiasm as Pilots Paul Nuwer and Ray Stinchcomb taxiied the chrome-finished warbird down the runway of the Newport-News International Airport.
"It's a lot shinier than I remember, but, boy did I do some time on ones just like this," said Mr. Chambers, who served as a bombardier and navigator for the U.S. Army Air Corps during the Pacific Theater campaign.
Following a short pre-flight brief, the veterans climbed aboard for their long-awaited reunion.
While the seasoned veteran may not be as mobile these days, Mr. Chambers found a renewed energy when it came time to ascend into the aircraft's narrow forward hatch. Before long, he found his way into the familiar "jump seat" and beamed a smile to his family standing on the ramp below.
"I've never seen him reach that high and give that much effort (as he did climbing aboard)," said Mike Player, Mr. Chamber's son-in-law. "He was determined he was going to go."
While Mr. Wainright did not share an intimate relationship with the aircraft, having served as an aerial gunner aboard the B-26 Marauders and B-29 Superfortresses, he said that, regardless, "Panchito" is always "a welcomed sight."
After landing, the veterans joined friends, family and crew members for photographs and received commemorative certificates to document their historic flight.
"This is something I'll never forget," said Mr. Dandridge, a 21-year Air Force veteran, and former B-26 engineer and gunner who served at Langley from 1952 to 1959. "It was a great ride."