Goodfellow celebrates 75 years with flag raising reenactment Published Jan. 26, 2016 By Senior Airman Scott Jackson 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Goodfellow Air Force Base celebrated its 75th Anniversary by reenacting a 1941 flag raising featuring a fly over of the World War II-era trainer Vultee BT-15 Valiant and the modern day Rockwell B-1 Lancer at the Norma Brown building Jan. 26. The flag raising ceremony commenced a year of events to celebrate the base’s 75th anniversary. “On January 26, 1941, three soldiers raised the flag on this installation for the first time,” said Col. Michael L. Downs, 17th Training Wing Commander. “The flag smartly unfurled in the West Texas wind signifying the opening of the base.” The Vultee BT-15 Valiant aircraft flew over the base symbolizing Goodfellow’s history. Generations of pilots originally started their careers by learning how to fly with the BT-13 and BT-14 aircraft. For Goodfellow, the usage of the Vultee BT-13 Valiant came from an unfortunate occurrence of events. The original plane used to train pilots was the B-14, a difficult plane to fly. “The BT-14 was very unforgiving,” said Dr. John Garrett, 17th Training Wing historian. “They made the switch to the BT-13 after numerous accidents.” After the switch, the accidents decreased in number allowing the pilot training to continue. So, why is the BT-15 featured for the flyover and not the BT-13? “The BT-15 is the same plane except that it has a larger engine and strengthened wings than on the BT-13,” said Garrett. “Looking from the outside, the BT-15 that’s flying above us today is identical to the blue and yellow BT-13 we have parked across the street from our event center.” Garrett then touched on the difference between past and present. “If this were the early 1940s, what we just saw would not be remarkable at all,” said Garrett. “It would be an everyday occurrence, times hundreds more. But today, it’s really cool.” After the flyby of the BT-15, the Goodfellow Air Force Base Honor Guard performed the flag raising reenactment with some members wearing the same uniform worn by the Army Air Corps in the 1940s. Immediately after the raising, the Rockwell B-1 Lancer flew overhead representing the new generation of intelligence support at Goodfellow. “I’m humbled to be standing here today after 75 years so close to where Col. Palmer stood,” said Downs. “At the place where 380,000 incredible young men and women came to become pilots, firefighters, intelligence operators. And I’m humbled and immensely proud to be a part of team Goodfellow, the San Angelo community and a part of Col. Palmer’s legacy.” Below are major highlights for celebrating the 75th anniversary. - May 20, Lt. Goodfellow Day - Sept. 15, Air Force Ball in the theme of the 75th Anniversary - Nov. 19, Community Appreciation Day with a 75th Anniversary theme