WWII veteran flies in a rare aircraft for his 94th birthday, thanks to nonprofit

WWII veteran flies in a rare aircraft for his 94th birthday, thanks to nonprofit

Tony Anger and Norman Langeliers land Amazing Grace, Anger’s 77-year-old Fairchild PT-26 trainer, at Mesa’s Falcon Field Airport on Feb. 21. (Photo by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

Tony Anger and Norman Langeliers land Amazing Grace, Anger’s 77-year-old Fairchild PT-26 trainer, at Mesa’s Falcon Field Airport on Feb. 21. (Photo by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

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MESA – The two-seat aircraft – sunshine gold and christened Amazing Grace – taxied along a line of its honored passenger’s family members, friends and Patriot Guard Riders before roaring off from Falcon Field Airport.

The plane carried a special passenger – World War II Navy veteran Norman Langeliers – who had turned 94 three days before his flight on Feb. 21. The special occasion was courtesy of the Christian nonprofit organization Grounded No More Inc.

CEO Tony Anger said he founded the nonprofit in January 2017 to give back to those who served our country. His team of volunteers, who spend their weekends honoring veterans, joined Langeliers for the nonprofit’s 430th veteran flight in the rare plane, a Fairchild PT-26 trainer.

“I’m just overwhelmed, appreciative,” Langeliers said before he and Anger lifted off.

Langeliers, who joined the Navy at 17, said he served on the USS Bracken, which was used in atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946. Until recently, he said, he had to get his blood drawn every year to make sure he was healthy.

Left: Norman Langeliers prepares for take off Feb. 21 – three days after the Navy veteran’s 94th birthday. Center: Amazing Grace, the type of trainer many pilots in World War II cut their teeth in, lifts off from Falcon Field Airport. Right: Tony Anger waves as he and Norman Langeliers touch down after about 20 minutes aloft. Anger has been organizing flights for veterans of all ages since 2017. (Photos by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

Family, friends and supporters of Norman Langeliers pray before his flight, which was arranged by Grounded No More, a nonprofit.

Norman Langeliers’ loved ones form a flag line to honor the World War II Navy veteran. (Photos by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

Left: Family, friends and supporters of Norman Langeliers pray before his flight, which was arranged by Grounded No More, a nonprofit. Right: Norman Langeliers’ loved ones form a flag line to honor the World War II Navy veteran. (Photos by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

Before every flight, Anger leads a prayer for the veteran of the day. He thanks them for their service, recites the Pledge of Allegiance and provides a quick history lesson about what flight-school candidates would learn on their first day. Then he and the veteran climb aboard the Fairchild PT-26, which was built in late 1943, and head to the skies.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story contained inaccurate information about Norman Langeliers’ military service. Langeliers says he was an engineer on the USS Bracken. Find the full correction here.

Grounded No More flies U.S. veterans of all eras, as well as some from Canada.

Anger originally bought Amazing Grace in remembrance of his father, who performed in airshows when Anger was young. He flew the plane once with his daughter before he took the first veteran for a ride. He said he chooses veterans to fly mostly by chance, when people reach out to him or by word of mouth.

Some of the veterans Anger has flown have described being on the verge of suicide, but, he said, “This ride actually changed their lives.”

Anger believes that the adrenaline produced by certain aerial maneuvers, such as pulling Gs, “supersedes some of the other stuff that kind of sucked in their lives.”

The flights cost about $70,000 a year, including regular aircraft maintenance. Grounded No More is a 501(c)3 nonprofit entirely funded by donations.

When he prays before each flight, Anger quotes Abraham Lincoln: “Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.”

Patriot Guard Riders follow Tony Anger in escorting Navy veteran Norman Langeliers to Falcon Field Airport for his flight.

Norman Langeliers, who served aboard the USS Bracken during World War II, arrives at Falcon Field Airport. (Photos by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

Left: Patriot Guard Riders follow Tony Anger in escorting Navy veteran Norman Langeliers to Falcon Field Airport for his flight. Right: Norman Langeliers, who served aboard the USS Bracken during World War II, arrives at Falcon Field Airport. (Photos by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

Since 2017, Grounded No More founder Tony Anger and his team of volunteers have flown 430 veterans of all ages in his vintage Fairchild PT-26 trainer. (Photo by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

Norman Langeliers gets an ovation after his flight in Amazing Grace. (Photo by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

Norman Langeliers belatedly celebrates his 94th birthday with his family at Falcon Field Airport. (Photo by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

Members of the Maj. Winfield Scott Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution – from left, Barbara Hanson, Sharon Leezer, Gerry Dillingham and Barbara O’Keeffe – participate in the flag line. (Photo by Rachel Stapholz/Cronkite News)

Rachel Stapholz

News Visual Journalist, Phoenix

Rachel Stapholz expects to graduate in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Stapholz, who also is studying audio engineering, works for Arizona PBS and is a technology ambassador at the NAB Leadership Foundation. She has interned at 12 News and KJZZ.