Laughlin's family visits, thrilled, overwhelmed

  • Published
  • By Kent Cummins
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AFB, Texas --  By Kent Cummins
47th FTW Public Affairs

Thrilled and overwhelmed.

Jacki Laughlin Mitchell kept turning to these two words to describe her recent visit to Del Rio and Laughlin Air Force Base, named in honor of her father, Del Rio native Lt. Jack T. Laughlin.

Mrs. Laughlin Mitchell and her daughter, Holly, visited here Aug. 15-17.

On Jan. 29, 1941, Lieutenant Laughlin's B-17 Flying Fortress was lost over Makassar Straits near Indonesia, on its first combat mission. In March 1943, the Army Air Forces Transition Flying School here was dedicated as Laughlin Army Air Field.

Mrs. Laughlin Mitchell, who has homes in California and England, said she "needed to return" to Laughlin AFB.

"When my mother passed last year I knew she had wanted to return to Laughlin AFB to visit," she explained. "I felt like I had to come. I felt a need to come here."

During their stay at Laughlin they met with 47th Flying Training Wing Commander Col. Mike Minahan, toured the base and Del Rio, and met with community leaders.

"Seeing the Laughlin name everywhere is thrilling," said Mrs. Laughlin Mitchell, who last visited the base in 1980. "I've always been so proud of Laughlin Air Force Base. To walk in a building and see a portrait of my father and to stay in a suite on base named after my father...it's hard to put in words. It's overwhelming. I'm deeply touched."

Lieutenant Laughlin's granddaughter said her time at Laughlin gave her a better understanding of the Air Force and the base.

"I was impressed with the structure of everything," said Holly, a professional photographer by trade. "It was my first visit and it was nice to see how everything is run. It gave me a clearer picture of what the Air Force and what this base is about. I was always aware of my grandfather and coming here has put a lot of the pieces of the puzzle together for me. I'm very proud this is part of my lineage."
Mrs. Laughlin Mitchell, born at Randolph Field in San Antonio, never met her father but still knew him well.
"I never actually met my father but my mother kept his memory very alive," she said. "He has always been a living person to me. I knew his likes and dislikes. I knew my father had died but he was very real to me. I even knew that cherry pie was his favorite pie. My mother kept him very alive for me. My father, or daddy Jack, as I knew him, was just part of the fabric of my life."

Although Mrs. Laughlin is a world traveler and has lived in places like France, Italy and Switzerland she said her heart still resides in Del Rio and Laughlin.

"I always considered Laughlin AFB as best in the world," she said. "I expected it to be just a wonderful place...that is how I was brought up."

Laughlin's wing commander said the base was fortunate to have such distinguished guests.

"We feel fortunate," said Colonel Minahan. "It's not often that a base has the honor of hosting the family of its namesake."

Before leaving the base Mrs. Laughlin Mitchell shared a tangible reminder of her father's love for his wife and duty to his country...a gold bracelet with raised pilot wings.

"I feel pride and I'm honored at what my father and this base represents," said Mrs. Laughlin Mitchell. "I felt it was very important to wear it during this special trip."

"It was the first present he ever gave my mother."