Public Invited to Celebrate WWII Aviator’s 101st Birthday Dream Flight on Dec. 30

The community is invited to attend a once-in-a-lifetime celebration this Tuesday, December 30, as World War II veteran and San Antonio native B.L. Craighead, Jr. celebrates his 101st birthday by returning to the skies.

At 12:30 p.m., Craighead will take flight in a vintage open-cockpit Stearman biplane at Castroville Municipal Airport, thanks to Dream Flights and a request from his granddaughter, Julie Craighead. “It would be a dream come true for him,” she said.

Craighead earned his Silver Pilot Wings at Darr Aero Field (Class 44I) during WWII and later served as a Flight Engineer and Instructor at Randolph Field. On his 101st birthday, he will once again soar—watched by three generations of family, friends, and community members.

When he lands, the celebration continues with birthday cake and “Happy Birthday” sung on the tarmac. Guests can also view Dream Flights’ restored Stearman biplanes along with several WWII-era warbirds on static display. Craighead will sign his name on the tail of the Stearman, joining hundreds of fellow WWII heroes honored through Dream Flights.

Event Details
Tuesday, December 30, 2025 | 12:30 p.m.
Castroville Municipal Airport
10500 Airport Rd, Castroville, TX
The public is welcome. There is no charge to attend.

Non-profit Dream Flights’ mission is giving back to those who gave. Since 2011, the nonprofit has landed in 49 states to honor nearly 8,000 veterans living in retirement and assisted living communities with free flights in restored WWII-era biplanes, the same aircraft used to train aviators in the 1940s. Dream Flights pilots, who primarily fly for major airlines and are active duty or retired military veterans themselves, volunteer their time to fly these veterans in the country's largest fleet of restored/fully operational Stearman biplanes.

Dream Flights are always free to participants. The organization relies on corporate sponsors, donors and individual donations to support its mission of giving back to those who gave. Tax-deductible donations and sponsorship opportunities are available at https://bit.ly/3ZkqlxR.