Veterans reminisce, maintain historical jets at Heritage Park

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jake Richmond
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Members of the 355th Fighter Association, a group of servicemembers who were assigned to the 355th Fighter Wing in past wars, returned to Heritage Park here Feb. 23 to continue the aircraft-refurbishing project that started in 2006.

They are scheduled to continue cleaning the old aircraft nearly every morning until March 9.

Many of the 355th FA volunteers are former active-duty aircraft maintainers who worked on the same airframes decades ago, when they were employed in combat all over the world.

"Our love for these aircraft has really come back in later life," said Mr. Steve Victor, a former maintainer assigned to the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron during Vietnam, when the 355th was a tactical fighter wing. In fact, Mr. Victor was a staff sergeant when he worked on the very same F-105 that's now displayed at Heritage Park.

"We enjoy maintaining the true heritage of the planes," he said. "We try to restore them to exactly the way they looked when they were flying in combat."

The project began in 2006, when 355th Fighter Wing Historian Mr. Doug Herndon ran into retired Chief Master Sgt. Bruce Kinner, the president of the 355th FA.

"I had been looking around for ways to improve the planes (at Heritage Park)," Mr. Herndon said. "When I ran into Chief Kinner, he was already planning to get some of his guys to volunteer to help out. Now, the (355th) Maintenance Group provides the supplies, and the 355th Fighter Association provides the labor."

After those logistical details got worked out, the volunteers started renovating and repainting the old aircraft, which were showing the effects of years of intense Arizona sunshine.

The volunteers are back this year as part of their ongoing effort to regularly keep the jets clean and attractive for park visitors.

"Where else can we go to work on aircraft?" Mr. Victor asked, smiling.