Pilots' reunion revisits the past
Son of flight school graduate hosts meeting for veterans

CHICKASHA A passion and respect for the greatest generation drive Ron Baker to continue hosting the annual reunion of World War II pilots who trained at the Wilson & Bonfils Flying School in Chickasha.

So do visions of a father he has never met.

"My father, Clifford King, graduated from this school in '45, said Baker, who lives in the Grady County town of Ninnekah.

Baker's parents didn't stay together; his father never new he had a son.

"I didn't learn about him until my mother told me in 1988. ... Turns out my father died in 1962.

"So this reunion means a lot to me.

Baker again will cherish memories of this year's two-day reunion, which begins at 9 a.m. today when graduates gather at the Chickasha Municipal Airport to reminisce and walk the grounds. Today all that remains of the old school are two airplane hangars and cement slabs that once cradled classrooms and a mess hall.

Soon, Baker realizes, even the people will be gone.

"When we first started this in 1992, we had over 300 people show up, said Baker, 60. "This year, I'm anticipating around 27, including wives. It gets tougher each year. These people are like family. On Saturday, we're all as happy as can be. But by the memorial breakfast on Sunday, I'm so choked up I can hardly even talk.

"I know it will be the last time I will ever see some of them.

Joe Preece of Chickasha is one of the pilots Baker considers family. Through the years, Baker has been privileged to hear stories of Preece's life and memories of his World War II experiences that began at the Wilson & Bonfils Flying School.

Chickasha is where the Pennsylvania native learned to fly. Chickasha also is where he met his wife, Elizabeth, at a local dance.

The couple have been married for 62 years.

"We'll enjoy a lot of comradeship, said Preece, 89. "I don't know everybody, but there's a bond just knowing we all served and flew at the same time, and we share a lot of common experiences.

Memories of war

Preece graduated from the 10 week courses at Wilson & Bonfils Flying School and went on to fly B 26 bombers overseas. He survived 65 missions.

By the end of the war, he was running continuous bombing missions over Germany.

"It was a twin-engine, medium bomber, Preece said of the B-26. "It had nice nicknames, too, like The Flying Coffin' or Widowmaker.' Yeah, it was a hard airplane to fly, but it was a tough old bird.

One drawback: Bombing runs were flown at the ever-dangerous altitudes of between 8,000 and 10,000 feet.

"You kind of got used to the danger, Preece said. "It was exciting, but I did worry every time I had to open that bomb bay. Sometimes, that (enemy) flak would come flying up through that open bay. I always worried it would touch off one of those bombs and that would be the end.

Once, while flying a mission over Italy, Preece and his crew sustained heavy fire. They lost an engine and two guns.

"Back in those days, we wore a headset cord for communication, Preece explained. "A piece of flak flew into the cockpit and cut that cord an inch from my neck. I still have that piece of flak.

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