Area veteran taken aboard World War II plane through Dream Flights

LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) – An area veteran was treated to the flight of a lifetime, taken to the sky in a World War II-era plane.

7News Chief Videographer, Justin Stevens was at the flight.

“Volunteering with Dream Flights really gives me an opportunity to come out and meet, pretty much the greatest people our country has to offer,” James Sims, a Dream Flights volunteer pilot said. “Dream Flights exclusively gives free flights to senior veterans all over the country.”

“I was shocked when the activities director at McMahon-Tomlinson came into my room and said ‘Would you be interested in doing this?’ I said I’ll go ahead and do it,” said Vietnam veteran, Jim Henry. “So she did the application or resume and I figured I didn’t, wouldn’t get it but she came back yesterday and said, ‘Guess what? You’re gonna go.’ You’ll be out there at 9 o’clock in the morning and here I am!”

“It’s a breath of fresh air! We’re above the contaminants,” Henry exclaimed. “It was really, really cool and yeah I’ve been up there in helicopters back in Vietnam, you know but you’re not sightseeing. So thankful I did it, I’m just so glad. It was an experience. Because it’s something I’ll remember for the rest, so, and that’s it in a nutshell shell!

Copyright 2024 KSWO. All rights reserved.