To the Editor:
This letter was submitted by Bert Combra, on behalf of Bill Faria Jr.
Mr. Combra,
It was great speaking to you, and glad all is well. Please feel free to call anytime. Also pass my regard to Phil.
Please find three pictures enclosed.
My father witnessed the launch and recovery of my last Air Force F-16 Viper flight at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Dad received a VIP aircraft orientation, then helped us perform a preflight inspection. He was speechless sitting in the cockpit. The first picture is of me looking at the camera at the beginning of my inspection and pre-brief with my ground and aircrew.
The second picture, with my dad standing in front of the crew ladder, was during aircraft recovery and engine shutdown. He got to participate during our mission debrief, enjoying every moment of our details of our three air-to-air MiG kills.
The third and most important picture has a remarkable story. Dad passed away six years after Nancy and I retired from the Air Force. Dad always wanted to fly in a fighter, and always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon. Because of his Bronze Star and Purple Heart, we had his flag flown/posted on the U.S. Capitol for the day.
Once we received the U.S. flag back, we collected his ashes and a copy of his DD-214, and placed it in the last flag fold.
We had a friend who was still flying F-16 Vipers in the same squadron I retired from. We placed his flag with Dad’s remains and DD-214 on the right side of the cockpit, wedged against the canopy, representing a place of honor. My pilot [friend] disguised a BFM (Basic Flight Maneuvers) mission to fly extremely fast at about 500 feet off the deck straight down the middle of the Grand Canyon, making as much noise as he could. Over the range area, Dad flew Mach 1.7 and experienced 9G maneuvers. Returning to Luke Air Force Base, he flew in a four-ship formation over the base, with his fighter pulling hard vertical [climb] signifying a missing man: him.
In short, Dad got to break the bonds of earth over the Grand Canyon, fly like hell at 45,000 feet, and land in peace.
My father was a great man, and provided me with tenacity, resilience, and strength that pulled me [through] brutal combat on the ground and in the air.
Sincerely,
Bill Faria Jr.
Rest in peace my friend, Bill Faria Sr. (Oak Bluffs).
Bert Combra
Oak Bluffs
