Former World War II British pilots give Miami High students a special gift

Between 1941 and 1945, hundreds of British teenagers flocked to Oklahoma to earn their Royal Air Force wings. <br/><br/>They were part of a secret training mission that was centered in Miami and Ponca

Monday, June 20th 2005, 3:08 pm

By: News On 6

Between 1941 and 1945, hundreds of British teenagers flocked to Oklahoma to earn their Royal Air Force wings.

They were part of a secret training mission that was centered in Miami and Ponca City. In what they're calling their final trip back to Oklahoma, about twenty of the pilots who trained in Miami are back in town this week. Because of their advancing ages, their British Flying Training Association is disbanding, but not before emptying their treasury into a scholarship fund for students at Miami High School.

The old pilots say it's a worthy way to remember and be remembered, for the time they spent in Miami. British pilot Ron Emmerson: "It's difficult to describe the wealth of hospitality, it was home from home and I can't put a higher compliment that that, home from home.â€

The association set up their scholarship fund ten years ago, and each year it has helped a Miami High School student attend Miamiâ€™s NEO A&M College.