2nd FTS Reunion

Published Nov. 12, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Solomon Cook
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Tyndall hosted a 2nd Fighter Training Squadron reunion Nov. 2 at the 2nd FTS building.

Attendees of the event included not only current squadron members, but also WWII combat veterans.

"The American Beagle Squadron and the 2nd FTS came together after four years apart," said 1st Lt. Brett McKinnon, 2nd FTS T-38A Talon minion. "The American Beagle Squadron used to hold periodic reunions up until it was deactivated and we wanted to bring that back to celebrate our heritage dating back to WWII."

Visiting veterans were welcomed with a breakfast, followed by a trip to the flight line. However, the biggest attraction was meeting with old friends and talking with the newest generation of fighter pilots.

"We have a reunion every year, but the last reunion at Tyndall was back in 2010," said Oscar Bushwar retired Air Force Major. "It feels great to be around all the people I was in combat with. The most important thing is seeing the new guys. It's wonderful to see these young guys grow up to be fighter pilots."

The veterans try to hear from the young pilots, but the conversation quickly switches back to the WWII veterans, and the things they have done, Bushwar added.

"Having the veterans here was absolutely fantastic," said McKinnon. "Three of the original veterans from the Beagles during WWII were able to make the trip here, and they are an extremely lively bunch of folks. Being a new lieutenant in the fighter world, it was a great experience for me to see different perspectives from multiple different eras of the American Beagle Squadron."

It was a chance to see how much has changed, yet how much has surprisingly stayed the same, McKinnon added.

As the original Beagles enjoyed their reunion, they imparted their knowledge and told WWII stories.

"My first time with the Beagles was in September 1944 in Medma, Italy," Bushwar said. "We flew P-51 Mustangs in Italy, Germany and through Yugoslavia. Of the nine of us there, four of us came back. Myself, I flew 50 missions, 250 combat hours and was able to shoot down one Focke-Wulf 190.

The feeling of nostalgia and pride was not wasted on any in attendance.

"Throughout the reunion I felt an overwhelming sense of pride to be a part of the Beagle heritage," said McKinnon. "We don't often have chances to learn from firsthand experiences about our history and those opportunities are something that we as a squadron are very grateful for. I want them to know that while the airframes and missions change, the Beagles' core spirit hasn't changed and we constantly strive to live up to the great American Beagle reputation that was paved by them."

A constant theme and lesson the original Beagles tried to impart in the new generation was a simple one.

"Stay in the cockpit as long as you can, because you never know when that opportunity will no longer exist," Bushwar said.