Watch a 102-Year-Old WWII Pilot See a B-2 Stealth Bomber for the First Time

From D-Day to Today’s Air Force

Captain Dick Nelms flew 35 bombing missions over Europe during World War II. He was just 21 on D-Day, flying a B-17 in the massive invasion of France. His skill and bravery earned him five Air Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Presidential Unit Citation. Now, at 102, Nelms continues to inspire.

Recently, he flew in a private plane to Missouri’s Whiteman Air Force Base to visit the home of the B-2 stealth bomber. It was his first time seeing the advanced aircraft up close. The visit was arranged by Naveed Jamali, who had previously met Nelms at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, where Nelms volunteers.

A Veteran Meets Modern Technology

The Air Force’s 509th Bomb Wing gave Nelms a tour of the B-2, an aircraft very different from the B-17 he once flew. He admired the sleek design and large wingspan, noting the differences in shape and technology. “It’s beautiful,” he said, though he admitted, “At my age, I’d only be looking, not flying.”

In his time, pilots trained quickly and relied on heavy armor and manual controls. He pointed out that today’s bombers are far more advanced, able to strike several targets with just one plane. Nelms praised the modern airmen he met, saying they are better trained than his generation, who had only months to prepare for combat.

Honoring a Life of Service

Nelms’s visit ended with a gift: a commander’s coin shaped like the B-2, engraved with the phrase “Fear what you cannot see.” It marked a full-circle moment for the veteran who once fought with visible firepower and now witnessed modern stealth. As he stood in front of the bomber, he smiled and echoed the words from decades ago: “Just keep them flying.”