Fleet Week Houston brought out families, kids and aviation fans. But one visitor’s story stood out from the rest.
HOUSTON — Fleet Week Houston is drawing crowds to the Lone Star Flight Museum at Ellington Field, giving visitors a rare chance to get up close with Navy and Marine Corps aircraft and meet the service members who fly them. But for one visitor, the event became something far more personal.
Among the crowd of curious visitors was 98-year-old Lieutenant Commander Paul Martin, a Navy fighter pilot who flew missions over the Korean War. He was greeted by a Navy admiral at the event.
“I’m Admiral John Hewitt, nice to meet you sir.”
Martin introduced himself simply.
“I’m 98 years old, your oldest living fighter pilot here I guess.”
The admiral took a moment to honor Martin’s legacy, telling him he represented the foundation of naval aviation.
“You were the legacy and foundation of naval aviation and I want to show you the future of naval aviation.”
Martin responded with characteristic humility.
“Well I know you’ve gone way beyond what I did.”
Martin served 12 years in the Navy and flew multiple planes during the Korean War. He walked the flight line, pausing to point out aircraft that defined his career, including one known for a distinctive sound.
“They called it whistling death because it made so much whistles as it came down to drop bombs.”
He also spotted the very first plane he ever flew.
“First airplane I ever flew in my life was the SNJ.”
Martin’s path to military service was shaped in part by tragedy. After losing his brother in World War II, a letter his brother left behind encouraged him to serve. But Martin says flying was always his true calling.
“Growing up all I wanted to be was a fighter pilot. I grew up during World War II and I watched those fighter pilots with their 20 mission hats and I thought wow, that’s the greatest thing I could be is to become a fighter pilot and I did and it was as wonderful as I thought.”
Looking back, he has no regrets.
“The time I had flying was the best time of my life.”
Martin left the event with a Navy challenge coin, a keepsake marking the day past and present came together on the same flight line. He marveled at how much aviation has evolved.
“Everything has totally changed for the better.”
And while he admired the modern aircraft surrounding him, he kept his sense of humor about his own limitations.
“Wish I could fly one of them but I’m a little old to do that.”
Meanwhile, the next generation was already catching the bug. Eight-year-old Jude was practically buzzing with excitement.
“I love T-38, military helicopters, those ones over there, I love everything, everything, EVERYTHING!”
“I want to be an air force pilot!”
