Have any of you been the crew of an Honor Flight? These are flights to and from BWI that fly WWII, Korean conflict, and Vietnam verterans and at least one escort to Wash DC to visit memorials and monuments to honor them and give them some needed closure. What was your experience and did you do something special to accommodate them?

 

I crewed an honor flight several years ago. Awesome flight and it was a thrill and an privilege to skipper the flight.

Since it was a transcon IAD to SFO, we had a quick chat with the group leader to check on special needs. There was a flight nurse on our trip and the company put on extra O2 bottles just in case (none used). Flight went very smoothly, these 90 year old guys were in mostly good condition. Gave lots of before & after cockpit tours and met a guy with a flight jacket on with the name "lucky". He was enlisted in WW2, F86 fighter jock in Korea and a commander in Viet Nam. He sure earned the name!

We got a water canon salute on arrival and had a great time. Enjoy the trip.

 

I was an escort on one. I escorted a gentlemen that was on the USS New Jersey in the Pacific during WWII. He was one of the main gun loaders.
He was wheel chair bound so I pushed him all over DC.

It was a great experience.
Here is a pic of when we stepped into the terminal. These young navy vets wanted a pic with the battleship man.

 

I did one. FL-BWI. Make sure you are prepared for 80+ wheel chairs. I didn't do much other than thank them for their service. We left very early in the morning and returned after dark so on both ends I wanted to let them rest up. Each veteran usually travels with a sponsor that makes sure they are very well taken care of.

 

On one now...54wheelchairs. Nice fire spray on arrival. We go out this evening. My guess is these will be some tired folks on the return flight.
Well deserved honor...

 

Just did one last October. Nearly full 744 IAD-MKE, so just the return to home for these gentlemen. Korean era guys, a few Viet Nam. I must say it was one of the most rewarding work assignments of my life.

For those who don't know, the honor flights are typically day trips for vets who've never had an opportunity to visit the war memorials - and probably won't do much traveling again. Each vet has an escort (many wheelchairs, physical challenges). A family member may fill the role; if not, a volunteer. The day is full of recognition and respect for their service.

I could go on and obout the details, but I'll mention two things that got me the most: Mail call. Letters were written to each vet. As I understood, letters came from family and also school kids. Run in a similar fashion to what might have occurred in barracks or tents. Each vet was called on the PA and letters were distributed. Those who couldn't read themselves had somebody read to them (many feigning sight issues, at the prospect of a pretty F/A sitting on their lap to read). It was emotional just eavesdropping on the PA. To say these guys were touched and honored is an understatement. Cool event number two, the terminal greeting in MKE. After getting past the fact that MKE firefighters were an unpatriotic lot of turkeys (they demanded double time pay to crack open the water cannons) it was all good. Gianormous military band and beauty queens at the podium area. The ladies adorned each vet with an honor medal and flowers as they rolled off the plane. Bagpipes and brass radiating in the background. Then a long journey to the main terminal (250 yards I'd say). The entire distance was lined elbow to elbow with uniformed active duty, guard and reserve service members at attention and saluting. Official estimate 1000. Outside security in the main terminal and flowing outdoors, estimated 2000 family and citizens to greet them. Plus another huge band.

I realize I've rambled, trying to convey a bit of the feeling I was subjected to by participating. No kidding, I fought back tears a couple of times. It was truly amazing. One of the organizers bestowed me with a challenge coin similar in design to the medals being draped on the vets. Let's just say it is a cherished item. If you have a chance to work an honor flight, look forward to it.

 

I have done many honor flight I will say to talk and hear some of their stories is truly a great honor. 100 WWII vets everyone walked off and right back on again. If you do have the honor of doing this make sure you shake a vets hand.

 

Thank you Sir for working the trip. I have been on the Board of Directors for the MKE chapter of Honor Flight for many years. In 2009, after I was let go by Midwest, and looking for a new job, the program became very important to me. We fundraised and flew 3 747's that year, and yes, Delta charter dept. was VERY good to us when I was negotiating the cost. There is a TREMENDOUS amount of work done by an ALL volunteer group at all the Honor Flight hubs. EVERYONE associated with the program has one mission, make the Vets days as special as possible. If anyone happens to fly one of the flights, I would suggest, if possible, greeting and shake the vets hands in the terminal before they board, and Thank them for their service as they deplane. These are regular guys who did AMAZING things for our country and NEVER got the recognition they deserved. To be Thanked by an airline pilot is something that they NEVER though could/would happen to them. The MKE chapter produced a documentary about the program, which follows the day of 4 vets. When we debuted it, we rented Miller Park in MKE and 44000 people showed up for the showing. You can view it on Netflix, type in Honor Flight.

 

I've seen that documentary, it's pretty good.
I was a sponsor on the trip. It cost $700.
They assigned me to the gentleman posted above. Bill

 

It was my pleasure to participate. The captain had escorted his dad out of Chicago on Southwest about two years earlier, just before his passing. It had special meaning to him to skipper IAD-MKE. My dad was an early helo pilot and saw Korea twice, Viet Nam twice. Very stoic guy who didn't talk much about combat but was very "okay" with his experiences - farthest thing from PTSD you could imagine. He never made it to the memorials. I think even he would have had a tough time checking the emotions if he had been afforded the opportunity to take an honor flight.

I shook a lot of hands at the arrival end. Those guys were on cloud nine. Between all the airline and airport employees, volunteers and current service personnel, there was a lot of excitement in the air.

Glad to hear our charter department was good to you. They really have their act together operationally, but of course I am the last guy to know about pricing. I was unaware of the documentary film. I will be watching it soon.

Did you take to the skies again after Midex? I used to ride your evening flight LAX-LAS, a route you flew for some reason; probably range to make MKE in the -30, but sometimes it was a -80. I took a longer flight as well. Nothing like real cloth and china in coach. I suppose those elegant touches went away in the later years. What a shame. Talk about flushing a Kimberly-Clark product.

Thanks for you contributions to a fine organization in Wisconsin. You folks do some great things.