Cpt Wilbert D. "Doug" Pearson Jr flew the first F-15C/D Eagle into Europe in April, 1977.
This past Wednesday, Cpt. Pearson's son, Lt Col Todd "Buddha" Pearson, flew the last out of Europe.
The planes stood watch over the skies of Europe for almost 50 years, brought in at the height of the Cold War, and it's only incredibly this chapter in military aviation history was bookended by a father and son.
Buddha told The War Zone shortly before the final departure, "My Dad flew the first F-15As into Europe in 1977, and I will fly the last Eagle back out in 2022. He was part of Project Ready Eagle, which brought the first waves of Eagles to join the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing [TFW] at Bitburg, Germany. Unlike the F-35 re-equipping here at Lakenheath now, which is bringing jets in a few at a time, back then they flew the Eagles into Europe 12 at a time!"
For Buddha, flying the last F-15 Eagle out of Europe was obviously a very emotional experience.
He said, "There's a lot of emotions associated with winding up F-15 Eagle operations in Europe. I was born and grew up at Bitburg and I was on the ramp when Dad arrived with those first Eagles. I don't really remember that specific day, but I was there and apparently I was pretty enthused about it all."
"Living at a main Eagle base, then moving to Nellis and having that first-hand exposure and being up close to them all the time, for me there was no way not to fall in love with fighters – it fuelled a passion. There has always been a special place in my heart for the F-15, and it became even more special when I was lucky enough to be selected to fly the F-15 as well!"
LISTEN on the Audacy App
