[SS427]

Your story reminded me of one that happened to me 18 years ago regarding my father and brother. Both retired Air Force airframe/avionics crewchiefs.

My mom and dad were traveling in Texas just a year before his death and he became very ill. He was rushed to Lackland AFB for surgery at Wilford Hall Medical Center. My brother, sister and I immediately flew down to be with them. While waiting for everything we walked to a nearby park where there were likely a dozen airplanes on static display. Unbelieveably, my dad's C-119 was one of the airplanes on display. He had no idea it was there.

Fast forward 3 years later and after he had passed away, I flew to Arizona to visit my brother and his wife. During my stay I asked that he take me to some local air museums. One of them was the Pima Air Museum in Tuscon. While walking around the outdoor static displays my brother takes off running towards an F-105 Thunderchief and suddenly drops to his knees in front of the airplane. His wife and I just looked at each other in confusion. Upon catching up to him and finding him in tears we asked what was going on. He pointed to the tail of the airplane. It was HIS plane that he had not seen since his tour in Korat, Thailand during the Viet Nam war in the early seventies. This was the airplane he was in charge of during his tour. From what I recall, he picked this aircraft because of the tail number. See the attached photo.

Just an interested set of events with both father and brother.
Rick