The Cream

<p>After earning his Wings and Commission Harper graduated from B-26 Transition School and B-24 Transition School. He was rated First Pilot/Aircraft Commander in the B-26 B-25 B-24 and B-17. He also flew the P-40 and flew over 100 missions as pilot of the P-63 and RP-63 in the Pinball Program. The RP-63 was an armored version of the P-63 and was used as a target airplane in the training of Aerial Gunners. These Pinball missions were flown at great risk to the pilot.</p><p>He was discharged from the Army in December 1945 and did not pilot another airplane until 1998 - 53 years between flights - when he was invited to join the Confederate (now Commemorative) Air Force. At age 91 he now flies the AT-6 the BT-13 and the PT-19 for the CAF. He also flew the N3N the T-34 the T-28 the Jet Provost and he was the pilot of the only flying Curtis SB2C Helldiver in the world. He still flies in several Air Shows each year. </p>