Burnet County veteran recounts near-death flight experience
Nathan Hendrix/The Highlander
Burnet County resident Ray Bronk has several old photographs of his time in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1972 when he served as a fighter pilot and flight instructor.
By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer
A brush with death would make most people reconsider their path in life, but a midair jet fighter collision during a training exercise could not dissuade Burnet County veteran Ray Bronk from continuing to pilot aircraft for his country.
Ray joined the United States Air Force in 1952 and aced his aptitude tests. The career advisor listed aircraft pilot as one of his potential jobs.
“He said 'Airman Bronk, you can be anything you want,'” Ray recalled. “I said 'pilot? That's what I want.' It was the very first time it ever entered my mind.” . . .
Find the rest of this story in the Friday, Nov. 8 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for the Highland Lakes. To offer a comment or news tip, email nathan@highlandernews.com. To subscribe to the newspaper, call 830-693-4367 or click here to subscribe to our e-Edition online.
