HONORING VETERANS

Spads celebrate 94 years of air dominance Spads celebrate 94 years of air dominance Posted 8/26/2011 Email story Print story by Airman 1st Class Racheal Watson 633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs 8/26/2011 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFNS) -- Airmen from the 94th Fighter Squadron burned a piano in a traditional ceremony here Aug. 19, as part of the four-day 94th anniversary celebration that started Aug. 18. Although there are several stories of why the piano was burned, Capt. Jonathan Smith, the 94th FS assistant director of operations, explained the tradition came from the Royal Air Force during World War II in the Battle of Britain. "Every squadron had a piano player, and if the piano player was killed in action, that evening they would roll the piano outside to the back of the mess and burn (it) in celebration of (the deceased pilot's) life," Smith said. The 94th FS members torched the piano on the flight line under the ...