Remembering an American Hero: John "Lucky" Luckadoo, Flies West at 103
Dallas, TX (September 3, 2025) The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is saddened by the news that American hero and long-time friend of the CAF, John "Lucky" Luckadoo, has flown West at 103 years old. Lucky, who was the last surviving B-17 bomber pilot from the 100th Bomb Group during World War II, passed away on Sunday, August 2, 2025. The CAF will continue to honor his legacy and others from the Greatest Generation as part of our mission.
Born in 1922, Luckadoo joined the U.S. Army Air Corps soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor. By 1943, he had earned his wings as a multi-engine pilot and was assigned to the famed Eighth Air Force in England. There he flew the B-17 Flying Fortress with the 100th Bomb Group—a unit that would earn the nickname “The Bloody Hundredth” due to its staggering losses in combat.
Of the 40 pilots who began training with him, only four survived a full tour of 25 missions. Against overwhelming odds, Luckadoo completed his 25th mission in February 1944 at the controls of his aircraft, Alice from Dallas II. His service placed him at the center of the air war over Europe, flying high-altitude formation bombing missions with little or no fighter escort, braving German flak and enemy fighters on nearly every sortie. After the war, Luckadoo resigned his U.S. Air Force commission as a major in 1948 to complete his education. He went on to a successful career in commercial real estate, developing enclosed shopping centers throughout the Southwest. He eventually settled in Dallas, where he lived for more than six decades.
Even in his later years, Luckadoo remained dedicated to ensuring the sacrifices of his generation were not forgotten. He became a tireless advocate for recognizing the “Home Front Heroes”—the millions of Americans who built aircraft, produced supplies, and supported the war effort from home. Thanks in part to his leadership, the city of Dallas established Home Front Heroes Day in 2019. Luckadoo continued pressing for national recognition of these men and women, inspiring bipartisan efforts in Congress to create a permanent day of honor.
To his friends and fellow aviators, Luckadoo embodied both courage and humility. He often reminded audiences that his survival was a matter of chance—and that the true credit for victory belonged not only to those who flew, but also to those who worked tirelessly in factories, on farms, and in communities across the nation.
The CAF is proud to have called Lucky a friend and inspiration. His story will continue to fuel our mission to educate, inspire, and honor the men and women who served in World War II. While John “Lucky” Luckadoo has taken his final flight, his legacy will endure in the skies and in the hearts of all who strive to keep the Greatest Generation Alive.
