Charleston Man Flies Plane to Celebrate 90th Birthday

A Charleston man celebrated his 90th birthday Wednesday doing what he loves.

Hank Hauser flew an airplane out of the Fort Smith Airport along his granddaughter and flight instructor Greg Reed. A World War II veteran, Hauser served in the Pacific.

He said he was with the 41st Infantry Division and they were the first into Hiroshima, Japan following the dropping of the atom bomb.

Hauser came back from the war and used his G.I. Bill to pay for pilot lessons. But now he doesn’t get to fly as much as he used to.

“It’s been three years since, I’ve flown a plane with guy,” Hauser said. “Before, I hadn’t flown one for 20 years and he told my son , why he hasn’t forgot anything.”

Reed said Hauser took off, flew and landed the plane all on his own.