WW2 Airmans Reaction On Seeing F-22 Raptor For the First Time In His Life

Few Stark Differences..

There aren’t a lot of WWII vets that have seen an F-22 as up close as Leslie Edwards.

Staff Sergeant Leslie Edwards was once a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, having been drafted in 1943. Back then, their aircraft were mostly powered by piston engines – unlike the jet engines we use on our fighters today. 

As such, Edwards was completely caught off-guard by what he just witnessed in this video. That day, Edwards was able to watch the F-22 as it took off near him. To say that he was impressed is selling it short. Here’s what he had to say:

“I admired the P-51 when it flew over my head. I admired the P-40 when it flew. But now.. what I’m looking at.. this F-22…. Yes, we have made progress – that is clear to me!” 

No doubt, going from the P-51 to the F-22 we know today must have been a complete shock to him!