Keeping history alive

Soldiers Magazine, Oct, 2004 by Lisa Gregory

DURING the Vietnam War Larry Kelley was busy making a dream come true for his parents by striving to be the first in his family to graduate from college. And he did. By then the war was over, but his ongoing love of aviation eventually drew him into restoring and flying vintage military aircraft--known as warbirds--as a way to keep military history alive.

"History is not made by the aircraft, but by the pilots and crew, and I've always tried to focus not on the plane but the people behind it," said Kelley, owner of a World War II-vintage B-25J Mitchell bomber nicknamed "Panchito."

"For most young people today that time period is just a date," Kelley said, "but if we can show them what it was about and keep that alive, then we've accomplished something."

It's easy to spot Kelley and his crew of volunteers at air shows across the country. Not only do they dress in vintage uniforms, but a large storyboard detailing the B-25's history is usually nearby.

During the earlier restoration of a WWII UC-78 cargo plane Kelley and his collaborators wanted to display the aircraft with as many period items as possible, he said. So they found such authentic items as charts and maps that would've been used during that time period and placed them in the UC-78. They've done much the same thing with the B-25.

Kelley and his latest warbird work with the Disabled American Veterans to promote benefits awareness for disabled veterans. This has brought the aircraft much attention from World War II veterans.

"A gentleman came by during one show and said he'd flown a B-25 during the war," Kelley said. "We thought it would be an honor to have him sit in the pilot's seat again. When he did, he became very pale and had a faraway look in his eyes that worried us. I asked if he was OK, and he explained that the last time he was in a B-25, in 1944, he'd lost his entire crew. He'd never even told that story to his own children.

"Hearing those sorts of stories from veteran pilots and crew members is gratifying for us, and is a big part of the reason we're out here trying to keep alive an important part of this nation's aviation history."