Class 66-A graduate stops by Laughlin Published Jan. 30, 2012 By Jack Waid 47th Flying Training Wing Historians Office LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- What was supposed to be a short visit to Laughlin turned into a two day visit. Retired Air Force Maj. Phil Budd, could not believe that he was on Laughlin as he drove through the main gate. "40 years changes the perspective," Budd said, "the flight line is about all I recognize." Budd, one of Laughlin's first T-38 graduates, even found office names had changed, when he asked for the base information office, he received the deer in the headlights look. He was eventually directed to the public affairs office and then to the wing historian. "Hello I am Phil Budd and I graduated from the first T-38 class here at Laughlin...Class 66-A," Budd said. First typically means the individual stating it did something or was involved in something significant. Budd went on to say he graduated August 1965 with about 31 other pilots after starting with 42." When the 1965 history was pulled off the shelf, there he was; 2nd Lt. Philip Budd. He along with several others went on to have distinctive careers in the Air Force. Some became generals while others worked for generals and ran wings. Some died in action and others continued to prove themselves in combat. This was true of Budd, a warrior who walked among us Jan. 18, without us even knowing it. The base rolled out the red carpet for a gentle giant of a man and combat experienced pilot with four Distinguished Flying Crosses, all earned while flying combat missions in Vietnam. He was an AC-47 Spooky "Puff the Magic Dragon" pilot and the aircraft he has flown through his years of service were far different from the T-6A Texan II he would first see. Budd visited with Garry Horton and Jon Crisp, T-6 maintenance section, and was shown the finer points of the aircraft. He transitioned from the T-6 and got on track with his old love, the T-38C Talon. As he walked into Hanger Two he took a deep breath and recalled, "I still remember the new smell, you see we received T-38s with less than two hours flying time on them. They were that new." Donald Tackett, T-38 maintenance section, took Budd on a tour of this aircraft. "Things have certainly changed, but the tail number says it all...64," said Budd. After his visit with his old love, Budd was completely at home as Candice Freeman and Capt. Tony Straw, both from the 87th Flying Training Squadron, along with other members of the squadron welcomed him as an old friend who had only been gone for a short time. The squadron designation may have been different in 1964 however; the language was the same. "Things were different in my time but I am amazed by what we ask not only of the students but of the instructor pilots," Budd said after hearing about the deployments members of the unit deal with. Budd did not skip a beat and never slowed down as the tour continued. He visited Amistad Dam and commented, "It was only being talked about when I was here." He also took time to meet Jim Long at the Laughlin Historical Foundation Museum and was thankful for the preservation work being accomplished at the museum. "I know many of the names you are honoring on the walls here," Budd said to Long. There was only one time during Budd's visit that the emotions of the day seemed to catch up with him. It was for just a moment, he disclosed with tears in his eyes, "I never paid for a beer when he went into a bar in Vietnam. Soldiers and Marines loved me and my crewmembers." The topic of conversation quickly changed to his career after the Air Force. He shared his experience as a pilot with UPS then took up raising heart healthy beef on his small Quiet Breeze Piedmontese Farm in Tennessee. After the tour and events of the day, Budd could not thank the men and women of Laughlin enough for the awesome blessing he received. He was extremely thankful so many took time out of their day for him. What Budd did not realize is we here at the 47th Flying Training Wing cannot thank him enough and the men and women he served with, for the sacrifices they have made for us.