World War II veteran B.L. Craighead Jr., of San Antonio, sits in the open cockpit of a Stearman biplane at Castroville Municipal Airport in Castroville, Texas, on Dec. 30, 2025. (Dream Flights)
An Army veteran who served as an aviator during World War II was given the chance to fly again for his 101st birthday, creating an unforgettable moment for himself and his family.
B.L. Craighead Jr., of San Antonio, flew in a vintage open-cockpit Stearman biplane — an aircraft he piloted during his World War II service — at Castroville Municipal Airport on his birthday Tuesday.
The flight experience was coordinated by Dream Flights, a nonprofit organization that takes America’s senior veterans on open-air flights in WWII-era biplanes. Since 2011, Dream Flights has flown in 49 states, honoring nearly 8,000 WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans with free flights.
About 40 of Craighead’s family and friends gathered at the runway to witness the moment, and Julie, his granddaughter, said everyone cried throughout the day as they watched his reactions because “it was so magical.”
“He was so happy, and it was just the best thing I could ever imagine,” Julie said Wednesday. “I can’t ask for a better gift in the whole wide world.”
Friends and family of World War II veteran B.L. Craighead Jr. stand on the runway at Castroville Municipal Airport in Castroville, Texas, on Dec. 30, 2025. (Dream Flights)
Julie also got the chance to be in another plane and taxi alongside Craighead to the end of the runway before he took off. She said he was overjoyed to see his granddaughter in a plane he had flown years ago during the war.
“I was waving to him, and he had both of his hands up in the air, and he was waving and wanting to stand up,” Julie said. “I’ve never seen him like that in my life.”
Though Craighead is usually nervous about getting into bed for fear of falling, he was full of determination and excitement when it was time to climb into the plane.
Hunter Stuckey, the pilot who flew Craighead, said that once he was seated in the cockpit, memories of flying 80 years ago came flooding back to him.
“He started saying, ‘I remember,’ ” said Stuckey. “When we got up in the air, he was super animated and was just looking out the side the whole time.”
Craighead, at 17, joined the newly formed Army Air Forces in 1941. He trained as a pilot at Sheppard Field, which is now Sheppard Air Force Base. He then became an instructor and flew out of Randolph Field, which is now Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, and other airfields across the state. He flew many different types of planes during his service.
Stuckey flew Craighead over the lake near where he grew up and then circled a nearby veterans community, where residents looked up and waved, recognizing the plane. They were in the air for 30 minutes.
“The whole experience was just as good for me as it was for him,” Stuckey said. “He had a blast and so did I, which is awesome.”
When they landed, Craighead’s family and friends lined the runway and saluted as he taxied past. Stuckey said Craighead started “crying out loud” as he watched each of his loved ones display a sign of respect toward him.
“I hope that the family saw him in his glory days,” Stuckey said. “He’s not sitting in a wheelchair. He’s in front of this cool airplane that he actually flew, and he’s in here, looking cool with his helmet on and everything. This is the real dude right here.”
Craighead is one of more than 1,000 WWII veterans who have been honored by Dream Flights. Following the flight, he took part in a tradition reserved for members of the “Greatest Generation” — signing his name on the aircraft’s tail.
“I’m super thankful for all the freedoms that we have here in the country, and it’s all because of these dudes,” Stuckey said. “I just hope he (Craighead) knows that we all support him. We’re on his team and everybody loves him.”
