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This was unbelievable to myself and my wingman because we were still 18 miles north. Our old and slow Stearman PT-17 biplanes were racing along at 65 mph as we were fighting a 20-knot headwind, so we were still almost 15 minutes from touchdown!
Previously, I had alerted the Atlanta Air Traffic Control facilities that our slow flying airplanes were going to be coming to visit them so they were expecting us, but trying to sequence us into their operation must have caused a lot of clenched jaws and tense moments with Atlanta Approach Control and the Atlanta Hartsfield Tower. However, they were very professional, as one would expect, and it went very well, and we felt welcomed like VIP’s.
We were welcomed like VIPs in our Stearman at Atlanta Hartsfield.
Delta Airlines hosts their annual Veterans Appreciation event at their Technical Operations Center.
Retired Air Force Colonel and former POW, Dewey Wayne Waddell (seated).
Every year, for the past 13 years, Delta Airlines hosts their annual Veterans Appreciation event at their huge Technical Operations Center. This year, my fourth time at the event, I was carrying someone very special in my front seat—retired Air Force Colonel and former POW, Dewey Wayne Waddell, who is now 89 years old. Wayne and I had flown in combat together in Vietnam during the summer of 1967 as F105 Thunderchief strike pilots. Our combat missions usually lasted between three to five hours, and we flew in attack formations of 20 or more “Thuds” and dive bombed the most heavily defended targets in the history of air warfare.
Colonel Waddell was shot down by radar directed anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) on July 5, 1967, while on a dive-bombing attack close to the North Vietnam-Chinese border. There was no possible chance of a helicopter rescue that far north and he was captured almost immediately after ejecting from his damaged F-105. He spent almost six long years enduring torture, isolation, starvation and unbelievably brutal and difficult conditions. His story, and all the POW’s who survived the prisons of North Vietnam, and their unbelievable courage and endurance is well documented.
I was fortunate to fly 72 combat missions over North Vietnam and not get shot down but many of my mates and buddies never finished their combat tours. Wayne and I were the survivors, but the real heroes gave their lives for this country. They were not “suckers and losers.”
Now, courtesy of my 1941 PT-17, 897, we were taking Wayne to be honored at the annual Delta event.
Wayne and I discussed the fact that this was probably the first time we had been in the same formation since the summer of 1967. Our flight today was a lot more friendly than the previous time and we did not have to be on the lookout for Mig’s and SAM’s. Flying over friendly territory also relieves a lot of stress.
My good friend Vic Syracuse was flying my wing in his beautiful Stearman PT-17 #719. Vic is also a Vietnam vet, and we fly a lot of formation together. We made a nice two ship formation landing on runway 8L and were directed to taxi to Delta’s (TOC) ramp which is located mid-field. Still, crossing the adjacent parallel runway 8R, with a huge Airbus holding for us made me feel a tad uncomfortable, now I know how a bug must feel when it sees a windshield coming at him!
A warm welcome awaited us from the Delta staff there, led by my old friend Mark Norris, who is the creator and leader of this unique event, now in its 13th year. We received the VIP treatment, and they took excellent care of our airplanes and helped Col. Waddell ease out of the front seat and get back on his feet.
A warm welcome awaited us from the Delta staff at the Technical Operations Center.
We were parked inside the big hangar, right next to a large USMC VTOL Osprey aircraft and a huge C-130J transport. Directly in front of us was one of the original C-47’s that dropped paratroopers over Normandy during the D-Day Operations of 1944! All around the huge Delta hangar were warbirds both historic and contemporary. F-16 Vipers, an F-15 Eagle, a pair of A-10’s, a P-51, P-40, AT-6’s, a giant C-17, many Army, Navy and Marine helicopters, a T-38, T-34, F-5 and more. Delta pulls most of their big jets out of the way and replaces them with Warbirds for this one-day celebration. There is no other event like this that I know of and at the World’s Busiest Airport, too! You just have to be there to experience it.
All around the huge Delta hangar were warbirds both historic and contemporary.
One of the highlights of the display was a 1934 Stinson, beautifully restored, owned by a good friend. It was a former military aircraft during WWII so it qualified as a warbird and was welcomed to the stage.
One of the highlights of the display was a 1934 Stinson.
Along with the many warbirds there were some really great displays of Army and USMC armored equipment and vehicles. All the families and kids had a great time talking to the crews who were just happy to show off their rides whether they had wheels, wings or rotors.
This whole event is designed to celebrate and honor current and former Veterans, especially those working for Delta Airlines. Delta is one of the largest employers of Veterans in the country and is very proud of their service and dedication.
I gave a short presentation about the F-105 that was the backbone of the bombing campaign of North Vietnam called Operation Rolling Thunder.
On Friday morning, my family and friends attended and I gave a short presentation about the F-105 that was the backbone of the bombing campaign of North Vietnam called Operation Rolling Thunder. I spoke about many of the difficult missions that we participated in and some of the extraordinary people that Wayne and I flew with during that summer of 1967.
Then it was time for the big hangar doors to slide open and for us to preflight my Stearman and get ready for our departure. The crew helped Wayne into the front cockpit and I got in the rear. Then they pushed us across the big Delta ramp where we started up and taxied out towards the exit and waited for Atlanta ground control to sequence us into the continuous traffic departing and arriving.
Atlanta certainly deserves it’s title as the world’s busiest airport. Much to our surprise though, they held a couple of big jets for us and gave us a taxi clearance right to the end of the runway and an almost immediate takeoff clearance. Not wanting to delay them any longer we completed our pre-takeoff checks and launched out of there ASAP.
A couple of radio changes and they cleared us direct to Cobb County Airport, McCollum Field, in Marietta, Georgia, where Wayne had met me the previous day.
Our mission was a great success and it was privilege to introduce all of the Delta friends and family to Col. Waddell. He enjoyed it as much as I did and we are already talking about doing it again next year!
- A Stearman, a POW, and the World’s Busiest Airport - April 28, 2025
- A soaring surprise for my birthday - January 5, 2024
- A pilot fresh from the sim gets a real world test - April 20, 2022
Cal, What a wonderful story and with you and Wayne in the same airplane/story makes it all TWICE as good! Perhaps you should share this little adventure at one of our upcoming Daedalian meetings! Boots