Tom Roeder
The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
October 19, 2016
Frank Royal's Air Force took off at 1:38 p.m.
A vintage aircraft clawed through the air followed by two chase planes, one carrying the 101-year-old pilot.
The last plane in the formation brought a tear to Royal's eye. Its sleek lines still raise his pulse. He can hear the thrum of its twin engines without his hearing aids - World War II ingrained the 24-cylinder symphony permanently in his mind.
He has good reason to remember the details. That very plane, a fully restored P-38 Lightning named White-33, was Royal's first love.
And he flew over Colorado Springs to tell her goodbye.
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