Flying with the big boys.
I climbed in behind Shawn knowing that he would take good care of me...or at least take good care of that plane...
He said he wouldn't do any loop de loops, he lied!
This is General Wright, the following story is my write up for our paper and also the Church News if they decide to print it.
“Mormon Mustang”
One WWII General and Three P-51 Mustangs
Liza B. Wilson
On Friday Oct. 24 2009, three P-51 Mustangs were flying formation in Rexburg, one of them, bearing the name “Mormon Mustang”, carried a 90 year old P-51 pilot, Brigadier General Roland Wright. How did he feel climbing back into a P-51, a plane that he logged over 2,000 hours on? “I feel back home in this plane.” he stated. “This was the ultimate aircraft of that era, it made it possible to liberate Europe.” The moniker “P-51 Mustang” may not mean much of anything to most people, but to the World War II pilots it was something special. As a pilot, to finally ascend to the point where you were flying the crème de la crème of flying machines meant that you were at the top of your game, had reached your dream and were among the most trusted and elite of pilots. Of the 14,819 Mustangs that were built there are now only 150 or roughly 1% still flying today.
As he stepped up to once more board the Mormon Mustang General Wright shared his emotions, “"It's just exciting for me at my age. You never think you'll get a chance to do something like this again."
Roland Wright was raised in Blackfoot, Idaho and fell in love with planes when the first barnstormers came through town and offered $10 plane rides. He scraped together his life savings and took the first ride of his life in a two-seated open cockpit biplane, he knew then that he wanted to fly. But first things first, to serve his church and fill a mission, he was called to the Northern States Mission. While there he had the opportunity to tour the mission with Apostle John A. Widtsoe and developed a close relationship with him. They continued to correspond after this time together. Near the latter part of Elder Wright’s mission Pearl Harbor was bombed and the need for enlisted men increased. Finishing his church mission he joined the ranks of service men. Patriotism was popular and joining was the thing to do.
Elder Wright had been counseled to continue being a missionary even after his formal mission ended. He came to understand that a “mission is an attitude”, it is standing up for what you believe in and being proud of your heritage. He was certainly proud of his heritage so after working his way up through flight training and attaining his dream of flying the P-51 Mustang he wanted to name it the “Mormon Mustang”. He sought the guidance of his friend Elder Widtsoe to be sure this was fitting. The apostle held that the qualities of the P-51 and that of a missionary were the same; strength, stamina and endurance. He thought it would be most appropriate for the now Lieutenant Wright to fly into battle with the name “Mormon Mustang” proudly displayed on his fuselage. The two successive planes he flew also bore the same title. Those planes did not come back from Europe.
Lt. Wright returned home to marry his sweetheart, Marjorie McDonough, after a 3 ½ year courtship by correspondence and pursue his education in Political Science and Law. He remained active in the Air National Guard and duty called again as he flew in both the Korean Vietnam Wars. Working his way up through promotions he achieved the rank of Brigadier General in 1971.
His service in the church also continued as he has held many church callings including, bishop, New York City Mission President 1977-80 Assistant Director of Temple Square 1980-83, Director of the Washington D.C. Visitors Center 1991-93, and currently as a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple.
On Oct. 23, 2009 General Roland Wright logged one more hour in a “Mormon Mustang”, flying over the Rexburg Temple and the farm hills of Idaho very near where he took his first plane ride he could reflect on a life well lived. This was another ride of his life, most likely the last one he will take in the Mormon Mustang.
We salute General Wright and the other Veterans who have fought to preserve our freedom.
