Lee, 93, traveled from his home in South Carolina to visit Minot AFB this month, to reconnect with the legendary bomber he flew during his two-decade career in the U.S. Air Force, which spanned from 1955 to 1975. Over the course of that time, he piloted several variants of strategic bombers, including the B-47 and B-52D, E and F models.

“The last time I flew was the summer of 1967,” Lee said. “Back then, I was flying as an aircraft commander, we had a lot of deployments. We once had 18 airplanes and 18 crews on alert 24/7 for one Bomb Wing. It was kind of hectic.”

During his visit, Lee was given a guided tour to see the base’s B-52H aircraft, the current model operated by the 5th Bomb Wing. For the veteran pilot, the experience was both nostalgic and enlightening.

Lee’s early career began with the B-47 Stratojet as a copilot, where promotion opportunities were limited due to the presence of seasoned World War II veterans who dominated the ranks of Strategic Air Command.

Gary Lee, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot, watches a B-52H Stratofortress fly over Minot Air Force Base during a visit to the base this month. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum. Submitted Photo

“It was hard to get upgraded in those days,” Lee recalled. “But at the Bomb Wing I was in, they finally got one quota to upgrade, and they gave that to me. I thought, ‘Wow. I didn’t know the wing commander liked me that much.'”

Even in his copilot days, Lee juggled several roles. “I was also the [electronic countermeasure] operator, the tail gunner and the assistant navigator. Every now and then, they let me land an airplane, and I’d take it.”

Ultimately, it was the B-52 that became his favorite to fly. When the B-47s were phased out, Lee was one of the select few in his Wing chosen to transition to the newer bombers. That legacy still soars today, as the B-52 continues to evolve with modern upgrades while remaining the backbone of America’s long-range bomber fleet.

“I’m very pleased I came,” he said. “I found out a little bit about the B-52H model that I didn’t know and it was all positive. I’d do it again, mainly because I’m back on an Air Force base with Air Force people and they haven’t changed in the last 50 years, which is wonderful to know. It resumes my faith in my fellow man.”