Daniel Washington’s first-ever flight on an airplane was a frightening experience high up in the air. His latest flight just recently was one of honor and just as memorable.
Washington, 87, a Pierce County resident and a trained pilot himself, was recently a passenger from Brunswick to Washington, D.C on a recent Honor Flight.
Daniel Washington recalls the first time he felt the lure of soaring through the air. He was working in the fields of the family farm alongside his siblings just outside of Patterson when a jet out of Ft. Stewart passed overhead, breaking the sound barrier and producing a sonic boom. He laughs as he recalls his panic-stricken sister grabbing him by the arm and racing for the safety of the old homestead.
“I think my feet only touched the ground a few times when she was dragging me to the house.”
In the aftermath, Washington told the other kids he would be a pilot one day. He says his brother laughed and said something to the effect of “yeah, right”.
Years passed, but by 1960 it was Washington’s heart that took flight, not his body. Shortly after graduating high school, he married the love of his life, Betty, and all was well.
Then Washington’s number came up. The Vietnam War was still raging and Washington found himself drafted into the U.S. Army. He was at the camp for two weeks when two friends from Patterson arrived for a visit. Washington’s wife was very ill and he was needed at home.
Daniel Washington always knew he would fly one day.
The friends pled Washington’s case to the major in charge of the camp, and the newlywed husband was soon released to go back home. Mrs. Washington recovered and Washington spent the rest of his year and change on stateside inactive duty, earning an honorable discharge.
The dream of flying was never far away however. In 1965, Washington got on a plane for the first time. He was going to learn how to fly. Over at the Waycross airfield, an instructor nicknamed Snowball took him up in the air for what might have been his first and last time.
Washington’s excitement soon turned to nervousness and then fear. Snowball had cut the engine while up among the clouds.
“He switched it off over the city of Waycross,” Washington says. “I said, this thing ain’t running! And Snowball said, I know, now what are we going to do about it?’
Snowball skillfully coasted the plane all the way from the city to the airfield then landed the aircraft without ever turning the engine back on.
“I was scared to death,” Washington says, “But once I got over that fear, I learned how to fly.”
When asked if he learned to fly for crop dusting or something else related to the family farm, Washington responds in the negative. He learned just because he wanted to fly.
“Crop dusting is too close to the ground. I wanted to be up in the air where I had room to move.”
While his head was sometimes literally in the clouds from that day onward, Washington settled into a very down-to-earth profession, teaching. An instructor at the old Pierce County High School as well as the Okefenokee Technical College in Waycross, Washington taught trade skills, including plumbing, electrical and carpentry.
“I believed in reaching down to the kid at the lowest level and bringing them up alongside the others,” Washington says of his years as a teacher.
Happily retired these days, Washington stays active and enjoys bicycling, but he was recently offered a very special trip back up into the air.
“As for the Honor Flight,” Washington says, “I didn’t think I was qualified for it.”
He was happily surprised to learn that his enlistment during wartime and subsequent honorable discharge made him a veteran eligible for the special trip.
“They had a little class in Brunswick, telling us the rules and regulations for the flight,” Washington says. “There were about 150 of us down there.”
For the duration of the trip, each honoree was given what is referred to as a guardian, someone to answer any questions and get them from place-to-place on the tour.
Washington had nothing but praise for his guardian and the entire experience. The food especially was in his words, “johnny on the spot”.
After a 3:30 a.m. breakfast, they boarded the plane. An hour and a half later, they were in the capital city, beginning a series of tours of the famous landmarks.
When it came to the Washington Monument, the retired teacher said it was the same as he remembered it, but it was he who had changed. Washington recalls racing to the top as fast as his legs could carry him while on a school trip to D.C. in 1957. On his most recent trip, he says he was winded before he was halfway up, but determined to finish even if he had to go more slowly.
As a memento of his visit, Washington was given an honor flight challenge coin to commemorate his service and the special trip. He keeps it in his pocket and while telling his story, gladly produces the coin and a picture of his dear, departed Betty, now four years gone.
Washington’s travels have not slowed since the honor flight touched back down in Georgia. He recently drove back from a visit to the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY. His next outing will be also be on wheels, but just two.
“I like riding bikes,” Washington explains, “Me and my granddaughter want to ride from Atlanta to Birmingham later this year—once it cools off a little.”
Washington proudly carries the challenge coin given as a memento of his flight.
