JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
In March 1973, all American troops left the Vietnam conflict as per the Paris Peace Accords, and in that same month, the 560th Flying Training Squadron was selected to retrain repatriated U.S. prisoners of war, shot down in combat, to resume their flying service. The squadron began their training by providing a celebratory "freedom flight" to commemorate their return.
Thus began the yearly Freedom Flyer Reunion, a heritage unique to the 560th FTS that connects many pilots who flew combat missions during the Vietnam War and who were held captive in prisons such as "Hanoi Hilton," where many were tortured for information.
The 39th annual Freedom Flyer Reunion March 30 will begin with a reception for the Freedom Flyers in Hangar 12, where the 560th FTS is stationed, at 7:30 a.m.
The reception will last one hour until the symposium starts in the base theater at 8:45 a.m. This year, more than 30 "Freedom Flyers" will be in attendance to share their experiences as POWs to an audience of Airmen and anyone with access to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
"We learn a lot about Vietnam history as well as POW history," Maj. Erik Gratteau, 560th FTS assistant director of operations and this year's Freedom Flyer Reunion director, said about the Freedom Flyers. "A lot of them actually show up earlier in the week before the reunion to hang out, have dinner and reconnect with each other. It's an awesome gathering."
During this year's symposium, eight distinguished guests will speak on various Vietnam era/POW-themed topics, including a topic on wives in waiting for their captive husbands.
Among the guests speaking are retired Air Force Lt. Col. Laurie Lengyel, who was shot down on Aug. 9, 1967, and was held captive for 2,044 days in North Vietnam, and retired Air Force Col. Smitty Harris who is credited with introducing "tap code" into Hanoi Hilton, a system of communication where POWs tapped on metal bars, pipes and walls to emit audible codes for alphabet letters.
Lt. Col. Russell Driggers, 560th FTS commander, said many of the stories the Freedom Flyers will share, all of whom were POWs, will be delivered with a heavy dose of reality and honesty.
"This isn't a fairy tale what these men will talk about," Driggers said. "A lot of the stories they tell carry a sense of rawness in which they were experienced in order to preserve their historical value. This part of the reunion is somber, so it's best to honor the POWs, those missing and killed in action, and for our countrymen still at war."
After the symposium, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Missing-Man Monument at noon followed by a missing-man formation flyby in T-38s. Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. John Borling, who is also a Freedom Flyer, will speak.
Since March 1973, 195 pilots have taken their fini-flight, or freedom flight, as part of the Freedom Flyer Reunion hosted by the 560th FTS. The last freedom flight took off in 2010, which may have been the last one due to the age of the group, Gratteau said.
However, the reunion is a chance to not only connect the Freedom Flyers to each other, but to their audience as well.
"It's an honor to meet and interact with these heroes," Gratteau said. "They're living history. By hearing them share their experiences, we get to be part of the Freedom Flyers."
At 6 p.m., an evening aerial view will culminate the public events of the day, where 22 different aircraft will fly above the Taj for all to enjoy.
Visit www.randolph.af.mil/units/12thflyingtrainingwing/freedomflyers/index.asp to access the schedule. Call Gratteau at 652-0789 or email him at erik.gratteau@us.af.mil for more information.