WORKERS FIGHT THROUGH WET CONDITIONS TO MOVE JET TO HENDERSON PARK
Despite rain delays and muddy ground, crews from the Washington County Veteran’s Association (WCVA) were able to move a historic fighter jet closer to its new home at Henderson Park on Saturday.
Because of the recent rains around Brenham, the ground was too wet to set the F-111 Air Force jet onto its permanent display pad at the park.
WCVA President Ben Seeker said once conditions improve, crews will put the plane onto the pad. The jet is currently in the parking lot.
While getting the plane out onto the road Saturday morning, crews frequently had to stop and make sure the plane’s tires did not get stuck in the wet ground surrounding the Brenham Municipal Airport. They also had to deal with brush and trees along the plane’s route from the airport.
Seeker said it was difficult to get moving, as plans got derailed as soon as anything went off the pavement. The plane’s tires had to be dug out of the mud several times.
A two-and-a-half ton truck was used to tow the plane from the airport, and workers had assistance from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, county Road and Bridge, and Brenham police.
Seeker thanked the teams that had to persevere through difficult conditions throughout the day, saying “the whole community pitched in on this.”
Restoration project manager Don Holley says “it took over twice as long as anticipated, but we had a good team out there that worked together to get this done.”
Members of the Brenham High School MCJROTC assisted through the transportation process. Dalton Hynes, Wyatt Trevino, and Christopher Kulow helped guide the plane along its route as it made its way to the park. They also performed measurements to help the plane clear obstacles.
Seeker said volunteers have put over 3,000 hours into the project, with over 60 donations from individuals, organizations, and businesses.
Holley said this restoration project and upcoming dedication is for all of the veterans across Washington County, to forever remember the efforts of the men in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Seeker calls the plane a symbol for all of the prisoners of war that were captured in Vietnam, as well as those that did not come home.
Holley noted that this plane is the last F-111 in existence to be put on display, because a vast majority of the F-111 fleet has been dismantled.
Seeker and Holley apologize to those who waited throughout the day, watching to see the plane at its new location. They assured that the plane will be ready for its dedication at the park on Veteran’s Day, November 11th.
It was a great honor to watch it come by our house. Those men worked very hard in poor conditions. I thank them for service then and now.
We were one of the people waiting patiently for the plane to make its appearance. We got to the fair grounds at 8:30 and then moved to the jail parking lot. Finally got to see it come up past the bridge at 3:00, it was very emotional. My husband spent a year in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. It made us proud to see it brought back to its old glory days. Thank You to the WCVA for all their efforts. It was worth the wait and the rain to see it come down the road.