by Tech, Set. George Hayward photos by Sif Sg. Steve Thurow Col. Norlan Daughtrey had waited almost 34 years for this moment. He stood next to the aircraft, his grin outshining the ‘warm April sunlight at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Friends, strangers «nd fellow pilots crowed him with handshakes, hugs and cheers. His flight suit was soaked, and salty tears ‘mingled with the sweet champagne that ran off his age-worn face, A pilot’ last sorte, called a “finis (pronounced fin-nee) flight” or “final flight,” is a celebrated event in the aviation community. Upon landing, the pilot is greeted at his aircraft by fiends, family and squadron mates. Often a rowdy oce:sion, full of laugh: ter and horseplay, the pilot is show- cred with cheers, jibes, water from fire hoses and champagne. I's a mo- ment fo treasure. For 65-year-old Norlan Daughtrey this moment was also a sorts. He'd taken off on a mission in 1965. But he never landed (On Aug. 2, then-Capt. Daughtrey was shot down during a bombing mission over North Vietnam. He jected violently from his F-105 and parachuted into enemy territory. “I broke both arms on the ejection, $0 when I hit the ground, 1 couldn't get said, "The North Vietnamese captured me pretty quickly.” For more than seven years, he was a prisoner of war. ‘lipped wings ‘When American POWs — mostly alrerew members — retumed from ‘Vietnam ding Operation Homecom- Ing in 1973, the majority were n poor health due to injuries suffered in thelr ms or from the general mis by their Vietnamese cap- tors. Among the Air Force plots, only about 50 were deemed ft enough to tum to flying status. Randolph’s 560th Flying Training Squadron was charged with requalf for the cockpit, Daughtrey was not one of them. In 4 final twist of injustice, his captivity robbed him of more than years of ng those pilots It was 34 years late, but Ut. Col. Norlan Daughtrey (i) finaly got his Fal fight ond cho page hosedown from Maj Je Kley nd the 580H Fying Training Squadron ob the 1999 Freedom Fiyers Reunion,Inside Atterberry Hall, the 560th's headquarters, visitors con loko! photos showing every freedom fern the program's 26year hisry. A smaller version of Randolph's “Mising Mon ‘monument (below) wes unveiled ot the 1999 renion. is mow on display ot ‘Alterbery Holl freedom. His wings clipped by inju ries, the medically disqualified pilot retired from the Air Force in 1975, without tasting the champagne, with ‘out taking his final flight. In April 1999, the Seoth Flying ‘Training Squadron gave it to him their 26th Freedom Fliers Reunion. ‘When the 560th retuned some POWS to the cockpits in 1973, the squadron also gave finis fights to several medically disqualified pilots. And they've done it every year since, at the annual spring reunion. They never got thelr last landing, thei final flight, since their last land ing was by parachute,” sald Maj, eff Klay, project officer for the 1999 re- union. “But we've kept the tradition going by bringing some of them back here every year and giving them their finis flight, their ‘freedom fight. (Over 26 years, the squadron has taken nearly 190 former POWs on freedom flights aboard their T-38s. "We have flown between four and eight pilots a year,” Klay said. “How ever many pilots we can get here each year, we'll ly then give them their champagne hosedown Dauightrey was the only freedom flier in 1999, as age, iliness and other events forced other scheduled fiers to ‘cancel. But in no way did that dimin- Ish the event for the squadron or some 20 past freedom fliers who at- tended. “The 560th would like to fly ‘as many former POWs as we can,” Klay said. “If we could fly every one of them In one year, we'd fly every jet In the fleet. But even if we can get only one, that’s still more than enough Klay was Just 12 years old when Daughtrey and the other POWs were released in 1973, “I remember seeing news footage of the ails going into CClark Air Base [Philippines], bringing ‘our heros home,” the major said. ‘But I think if | hadn't even been bom, being in the Air Force and knowing the sacrifices that a military person can pay, I'd still ]ook up to them. ‘The reunion has forged a strong bond between the squadron and the men who flew combat sorties 30 years ago. The 560th’s headquarters in Randolph’s Hangar 12 is named after Edwin Atterberry, an Air Force pilot who died in captivity after a failed 1969 escape attempt from a Vietnamese POW camp called The Annex. The walls of Atterberry Hall fare a museum of POW memorabilia and one hallway isa gallery of pho-tos showing every Freedom Flier’s moment in the sun, “Three's in’ Daughtrey’s moment inthe sun was Iterally that. A moming fog had bummed off to reveal cloudless blue skies over Randojph. Shortly before noon, a four. ship formation of T-38s — including ‘one piloted by Gen. Lloyd “Fig” New ton, commander of Air Education and Training Command — took oft. Daughtrey rode in the back seat of the third aircraf, piloted by the 500th’s Lt. Col. Steve Alltop. Like any aviator, Daughtrey wanted some ‘stick time,” controlling the jet and pulling G's during the 71-minute flight. Alt twas his first formation flight since he was shot down,” Alltop said afterward. “And he did fantastic As they soared the Texas skies, Randolph held a wreath-laying c ‘emony at the “Missing Man” monus ‘ment that dominates the base's central plaza. The ceremony com: ‘memorated those aviators who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, and ‘marked the unvelling of a smaller ver. sion of the "Missing Man” sculpture that is now displayed at the S60th. As the ceremony drew to a close, the roar ‘of jet engines led the sky, and the four-ship formation screamed in for a flyover at 500 feet. As more than 200 onlookers craned thelr eyes upward, the third jet, carrying Daughtry and Alltop, peeled away in the traditional salute to fallen aviators. ‘Moments later, as they prepared to land, Daughtrey called to the tower with a phrase that has come to sig nify POWs retumed home. t's a special cal,” Alltop sai. ‘When we rejoined the flight, he transmitted ‘Freedom Three's in.’ After his champagne shower on the Randolph flight line, Datightrey and the other freedom flrs joined the younger 560th pilots for a celebration in the squadron's halls. Two genera- tions of fighter pilots swapped stories full of the jargon and camaraderie that only fighter pilots understand. But that bond is what spawned the freedom flights ‘We have a lot of respect for these men," Klay said. their lives as prisoners. They have a lot to offer us and teach us, and this {sa way to show thanks to them. They spent a lot of — “It was out- standing — the best flight 1 ever had.” L. Col, Norlan Daughtrey It took 34 years, but retired Lt. Col. Norlan aughtrey got te final fight «fighter pr deserves. Daughtrey was thankful, t00, ad. mitting that tears flowed with flight- line bubbly. "It was outstanding ~ the best fight I ever had,” he said ‘But [ have one regret: Its probably the last time I'l ever fy.” A regret, perhaps. But atleast it was the finis ight a pilot deserves. Finally. © 3 © Septonber 1999 33