Vintage flyers

Photo by Becky Thomas

Members of the 497th Fighter Interceptor Squadron reminisce while viewing vintage airplanes at Felts Field Saturday, Sept. 26. The 497th was stationed at Geiger Field from 1955 until 1958, when they were moved to Spain. Wanda Newton's husband was a member of the squadron, and she said that when he started to wonder about his old buddies, she started contacting them. The 497th had their first reunion in Kansas City last summer, where they voted to “come home” to Geiger, Newton said, “even though they know there's nothing of the old base.” The group of 91 fighters and their families were in the area for their reunion two weeks ago. “It's been a great time,” Newton said. “There's a lot of history.”