WWII Veteran, 101, Takes to the Skies in His Historic Plane

A 101-year-old World War II veteran celebrated his birthday with a special flight. B.L. Craighead Jr. flew in the same type of plane he piloted during the war. The event happened on his 101st birthday. He flew in a Boeing-Stearman Model 75, a two-seat biplane used to train military pilots in the 1930s and 1940s. Craighead flew this model, known as a "Stearman," over 80 years ago as a young flight instructor. His recent flight allowed him to experience the aircraft again, this time as a passenger. The veteran's flight was captured on video. It shows his return to the cockpit of the iconic yellow training plane. This flight marks a unique personal anniversary. It connects Craighead's long life directly to his service during a defining global conflict.