The formation was made imaginable by the non-profit “Grounded No More.”

Jack Holder takes to the skies connected his 100th birthday. (KPHO, KTVK, CNN)

MESA, Ariz. – A WWII seasoned entered the “Century Club” with his caput successful the clouds - figuratively speaking.

Jack Holder turned 100 years aged connected December 13. But dissimilar astir radical his age, helium spent it successful the cockpit of “Amazing Grace”, a WWII aircraft.

Holder was a 19-year-old U.S. Navy aviator stationed astatine Pearl Harbor erstwhile it was attacked connected December 7, 1941. He was forced to leap successful a ditch to debar Japanese gunfire. 80 years later, helium remembers the time vividly.

“What was truly the fearfulness was seeing my shipmates jumping disconnected the ships into the h2o was covered successful lipid and connected fire,” Holder said.

He flew successful implicit 100 missions during WWII and continued his vocation arsenic a commercialized aviator aft the war. Today, portion helium doesn’t alert anymore, Holder remembers his flying days portion he’s engaged connected the play course.

“I consciousness similar I’d similar to bash it much often if I’m connected a play people and I spot a level travel over,” helium said. “I visualize everything successful the cockpit.”

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Holder’s escaped formation was provided by “Grounded No More,” a non-profit that offers escaped flights to veterans of each ages.

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