By Cambron Wright

William Creech, a fighter pilot of the 528 Fighter Squadron, told the UK Air Force ROTC cadets to maintain their character.

“Without integrity, you will never have command,” he said. “Never forget that.”

Creech was one of five pilots who came to speak in the White Hall Classroom Building on Thursday to 130 students in the Air Force ROTC program, along with the pilots’ friends and family.

Capt. Karl Bennett, a retired Air Force officer and former cadet in UK’s ROTC in the early 1970s, organized the event. He created this event in memory of his cousin, John Disney, a former member of ROTC at UK and a former Kernel reporter.

The five pilots speaking at the event  fought alongside Disney, who was killed in China during World War II at 23.

Bennett, born seven years after his cousin’s death, was inspired to join the Air Force because of how his cousin led his life.

“This is my way of completing the circle,” Bennett said. “I wanted the greatest generation to meet the next greatest generation.”

The five pilots, Lts. Hank Snow, David Thomas, William Young, Jesse Townsend and Creech of the 528 Fighter Squadron, or the “528 Dragonflies,” answered the cadets’ questions about their combat experience, their lives and what kept them going during their time of service.

The group specialized in air-to-ground combat. This means most of their targets were trains or enemy bases, which they were quick to point out were very dangerous.

Townsend, a soft-spoken man who flew over 100 combat missions, said finding motivation was not difficult because he was confident in his purpose.

“It wasn’t hard, really. We knew what we had to do,” Townsend said. “They kept us busy, so we couldn’t think about home too much.”

The pilots spoke of their desire to join the military after Pearl Harbor.  They said it was incredible what the American people could achieve in order to protect their country in times of war.

The mood of the event would often change from being funny and lighthearted to somber and sentimental.

When the pilots spoke of their fallen comrades, Bennett asked the cadets if they were prepared to lay their life down for their country. One hundred thirty hands shot in the air.

Trey Curtis, a freshman in the ROTC, said listening to veterans was vital.

“If you don’t know your history, you can’t move on to the future,” Curtis said.