Year after year, my wife'd ask me were I wanted to go for my bday. Knowing it wasn't gonna happen, I'd truthfully tell her, "Babe, I'd love to go to the airport, watch the planes come and go." Every year, same thing, she'd always say, "Babe, you can do that anytime." I'd reply, "Well, you're askin'...". Finally, one year many years ago, same scenario. She replies,"Ya know what, yeah, let's do that." So, before she changed her mind, we rolled. So, we go to an area near the airport where I'd driven by many times and seen many guys hangin' out there. So, that's where I take my wife. "Are you sure Babe?" I repeatedly ask her as we're driving there. Her reply, "Yeah, you've been wantin' to do this, let's get this over with." lol. So, on this day, there were many more guys there than usual and there were numerous WWII Veterans there. Some with flight jackets. Come to find out, there's a B17 comin' in doing touch an go's! I was friggin' excited, like a little kid. A real B17, doin' touch and go's. Well, finally, you can hear the plane comin', it lands and it taxi's over to where we were for a close up! They shut the plane down so we could stare in awe. Then, a pilot comes over from the plane and said they were there to give a ride to one of the WWII Veterans there. Come to find out, he was an B17 pilot back then. His family help him over to the gate. Then, the pilot called my name out. Whaaaaaaaat??? Confused, I look at my wife, she says, "Happy Birthday Babe, you're goin' for a ride." ...I'll never forget that (obviously!). Almost an hour in the air, and, I got to sit facing that WWII pilot and as we took off, I constantly watched the look on his face trying to imagine what he must have been feeling. He eventually makes eye contact with me, I have a huge smile and he gives me a thumbs up!!! Of course, I returned one back. By the way, spent most of the flight in the nose gunner seat.