Pilot for a day

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Linch
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  You could never tell it by looking at him, but for 4-year-old Kellen Bolling, leukemia is a reality.

A reality that comes with a routine consisting of chemotherapy, doctors appointments and other measures to battle the cancer.

Kellen came to Whiteman with his family to take a break from the monotony to become a pilot for a day Feb. 27.

"A friend of my wife informed her of Kellen's situation and asked if Team Whiteman could make Kellen a 'pilot for a day,'" said Maj. Robert Makros, 393d Bomb Squadron. "When Beth (his wife and fellow B-2 pilot) found out they lived in Kansas City, she jumped at the opportunity."

During his day as a pilot, Kellen participated in A-10 and B-2 tours, had lunch at the club with several Whiteman pilots and flew the A-10 and B-2 simulators. His favorite part of being a pilot was flying the B-2 simulator.

"The look on Kellen's face when he finished the simulator is one I will never forget," said Major Makros. "It made all the paperwork associated with the event worth the legwork."

Along with the jet and simulator tours, Kellen also received a flight suit, flight jacket, scarves and patches from squadrons on base, a B-2 model and an A-10 shirt and patches.

"Our motivation for this tour was to make it as memorable as possible for Kellen and his family," said Major Makros. "We tried to provide, at least for one day, Kellen and his family an escape from the daily grind associated with his Leukemia."