Bob Brocklehurst is 96-years-old, but he remembers the days he spent in the United States Army. He was part of the military before World War II even began and served the country for 30 years.

In his glory days, Bob flew in some of the most dangerous and roughest flying conditions in the world. He flew the P-47 Thunderbolt, P-40 Warhawk, and the P-51 Mustang, but now he’s one of the last WWII Aleutian Island pilots. Bob received several awards when he was in the military for his leadership and piloting skills. He was a major by the time he was just 22-years-old.

Even after retirement from the military and as he aged, Bob never outgrew his love for the sky. In fact, he celebrated his 65th birthday by going skydiving. In 2005, Bob lost his wife of several decades, and life hasn’t been easy for him since. But he says he feels closer to her when he’s up in the sky, so in February 2017, he got a special opportunity.

With the help of the Collings Foundation, Bob made a video that has gone viral. He got the chance to copilot a plane similar to the one that he flew when he was serving in the war. Although it took a bit more work to get in the plane than it used to, it wasn’t long before he was right at home again. While flying he recalled several memories from the past and even had the chance to perform a few trick maneuvers.

The flight took off from Tampa, and Bob admits he was a bit nervous to start with. But once the plane took off, the jitters quickly went away. His family on the ground was delighted to see him back doing what he loved once again.

Check out the emotional video of Bob’s flight below and be sure to share this heartwarming story with your family and friends. Bob says he just wants people to remember that the war wasn’t always parades, flags, and happy celebrations like it is today.