Veteran reunites with his aircraft

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Leanne Hedgepeth
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A Vietnam-era U.S. Air Force pilot was reunited with his aircraft when he visited the B-25 static display here, March 11.
George Baker, Vietnam veteran, piloted the B-25 located by the Jacobson gate. He recalls never seeing the aircraft again after flying the airplane to a depot in Tucson, Ariz. in 1962. Baker thought it had disappeared. By random chance, Baker was given the opportunity to see his B-25 again.
"I almost had tears in my eyes when I saw the aircraft again," said Baker. Stationed out of Dyess Air Force Base, he flew the B-25 in 1958 through 1959 and in 1962, he delivered the plane to the "boneyard."
Finding the plane was especially sentimental to Baker because he has seen most of the U.S. as he flew the plane during the early days of his career. By order of his commander, Baker flew around the U.S. looking for airplane parts in the B-25.
He thought maybe the B-25 was donated to the Mexican air force or to a museum in Chino, California.
Baker's reunion with his B-25 was sparked by a chance conversation he has with his friend, a historian at the museum in Dyess. When Baker made a comment about the airplane his friend said, "What's the tail number to your plane? I can tell you where it is." Sure enough the plane was sitting on a pedestal at Goodfellow, not too far away from Dyess.
Baker met Col. Charles Powell, former Goodfellow wing commander, through a mutual family friend. They both united to reminisce on their flying days as they toured Goodfellow.
Powell said, "It's refreshing to talk to someone who knows the planes."
Throughout Baker's time at Goodfellow, he emphasized, "I'm no hero. I just want to see my airplane."