Oldest Rocketeer turns 100

1st Lt. Chadwick McClure (left) and 1st Lt. Benjamin Bowman (right), both officers with the 336 FS, William “Bill” Slade his birthday cake during his 100th birthday celebration, Sept. 3, 2015, at Roswell Air Force Base, New Mexico. Slade originally flew the Spitfire for the Royal Air Force as part of the 133rd Pursuit Squadron, which is currently known as the 336th FS. (Courtesy photo)

Oldest Rocketeer turns 100

Members of the 336th Fighter Squadron presented several gifts to William “Bill” Slade during his 100th birthday celebration, Sept. 3, 2015, at Roswell Air Force Base, New Mexico. Slade was given framed pictures of squadron members in front of a static Spitfire as well as an F-15E Strike Eagle signed by all the current Rocketeers. (Courtesy photo)

Oldest Rocketeer turns 100

Published Sept. 15, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Ashley Williamson
4FW/PA

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Airmen from the 336th Fighter Squadron Rocketeers traveled to Albuquerque Sept. 3, for the 100th birthday celebration of the oldest surviving Rocketeer fighter pilot, retired 1st Lt. William "Bill" Corbett Slade.

The celebration was an opportunity for six Rocketeers to have a hand in squadron history, meet some war heroes and shake hands with the legend himself.

Slade, a native of Paris, Texas, turned 100 on Sept. 5, 2015 at Roswell Air Force Base, New Mexico. He was a member of the 336th FS when it changed its squadron number from 133rd Pursuit Squadron to the 336th.

"We benefitted just by going down there to meet upwards of 100 veterans, who were all WWII type people, Korea and Vietnam vets," said Flt. Lt. Douglas McKay, 336th FS pilot. "We benefitted just by getting to chat to a guy who flew a Spitfire and a Thunderbolt. This guy was a pilot in our squadron when he transferred over to becoming P-47 Thunderbolts from the Spitfire."

At his birthday celebration, Slade was introduced to the current youngest Rocketeer, 1st Lt. Benjamin Bowman, an F-15E Strike Eagle weapons systems officer.

"It was humbling to meet a Rocket, who at the same age I am now, was flying combat missions in Europe against the Nazis during WWII, particularly the Battle of Britain," Bowman said. "There is a lot of history with our eagle squadrons at Seymour Johnson (AFB) that we all know about, but to hear it firsthand really brought it to life. Bill Slade helped lay the groundwork for the fighter pilot ethos that lives on today in the 336th FS that he helped found as he transferred back to the U.S. with the rest of the 133rd Squadron from the RAF."

Slade first flew the Spitfire for the 133rd Squadron in April 1942 during tense times on the Western Front as the Allied Forces fought to maintain superiority while wielding an effective, strategic bombing campaign against the Nazis.

"The most rewarding part of the trip was hearing his [Slade's] stories," Bowman said. "He was still remarkably sharp for turning 100 years old. He clearly enjoyed flying back in the day and still loves talking about it. Telling us all of his stories and talking about his plane, the Spitfire, seemed to be the part he enjoyed most of the night."

Members of the 336th FS presented Slade with a photo of its members in front of a Spitfire, which stands tall in front of the Heritage Hall at Seymour Johnson AFB, and picture of an F-15E Strike Eagle signed by all the current Rocketeers.