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“He didn’t want to come down. It was like giving a lollipop to a kid and then trying to take it away. It was amazing.”

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOBoyle on Twitter

Jake Broody took his seat behind the pilot of the U.S. Navy SNJ-5 plane. The aircraft was once used to train pilots for combat in World War II and Broody was an instructor for the Air Force and its version of the plane – the AT-6.

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Jake Broody(left) of Kingston gets a hand from pilot Joe Scrobola getting into a Navy SNJ trainer to go for a ride on his 92 nd birthday Wednesday morning.Don Carey Times Leader Photo

Don Carey

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Joe Scrobola flies the Navy SNJ plane as 92-year-old Jake Broody of Kingston enjoys the ride on his 92nd birthday Wednesday morning.

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Mid-flight, pilot Joe Scrobola told Broody to take the controls and the former trainer glided the plane through the skies of Northeastern Pennsylvania. From Berwick to Red Rock and points in between, Broody handled the plane with ease, Scrobola said.

“He did some maneuvers and rolls with no difficulty,” Scrobola said of Broody. “He didn’t want to come down. It was like giving a lollipop to a kid and then trying to take it away. It was amazing.”

Not bad for a guy who just turned 92.

Broody, a former photographer, celebrated his birthday in the plane; a gift from about 20 of his friends – members of the Wyoming Valley Pilot’s Association and Valley Aviation. The members chipped in for fuel to honor their friend whose wisdom and guidance they have sought for years.

“This was like brand new,” Broody said. “I was thrilled to get back in it. I felt like I was 20 years old all over again.”

Broody said the planes were used in combat at Pearl Harbor after the attack took out most of the U.S. warplanes there. He said the AT-6 had an extremely powerful engine – more than 600 horsepower. The Scrobola brothers – Joe, Jimmy and Charlie, owners of the Wyoming Valley Airport in Forty Fort – purchased the Navy SNJ training plane three weeks ago and wanted to surprise Broody with a flight.

“I’m going back up on Saturday,” Broody said.

Broody trained many pilots during World War II in Alabama and South Carolina – most of the training being done at Maxwell Air Force Base.

“I continue to fly,” Broody said. “But I let my instructor’s license lapse.”

But Scrobola said he and the other pilots learn from Broody every day. Broody’s son, Corey, said pilots frequently show up at their Butler Street home in Kingston to ask questions and listen to their guru’s stories.

“He calls himself the babysitter,” Corey Broody said. “It’s fun to watch him interact with the pilots; they really respect him and all of his knowledge.”

Broody also has a daughter – Carol Moses – who lives in Hanover Township.

Scrobola said the AT-6 stands for Advanced Trainer – the plane Broody used at Maxwell AFB. The SNJ is the Navy’s version of the plane. When it was used in combat the plane was equipped with machine guns and bomb racks, Scrobola said.

After leaving the military Broody worked for Delta Airlines as a commercial pilot and later became a private instructor. He also owned and operated Broody Photography Studio in Plymouth for years, later moving to Carey Avenue in Wilkes-Barre.

“Jake is a great guy,” Scrobola said. “He’s an airport bum who is well-liked. It was an honor for me to be able to take him up once again.”

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Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.