23d Wing Public Affairs / Published June 04, 2021
U.S. Air Force Col. Ben Conde, 23d Wing vice commander, flies over the flightline at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, June 3, 2021. With his retirement approaching, Conde flew over the installation to mark his final flight in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers)
U.S. Air Force Col. Ben Conde, 23d Wing vice commander, taxis an HH-60G Pave Hawk aircraft into a parking spot at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, June 3, 2021. Conde conducted his last flight in the Air Force. After the flight, he was greeted by his family, friends, and fellow Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers)
U.S. Air Force Col. Ben Conde, 23d Wing vice commander, prepares to exit an HH-60G Pave Hawk at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, June 3, 2021. Conde completed his “fini flight,” marking his final Pave Hawk flight before he retires from the Air Force after 24 years of service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers)
Renaissance Conde, daughter of U.S. Air Force Col. Ben Conde, 23d Wing vice commander, sprays her dad with champagne at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, June 3, 2021. Upon completion of their final flights, military aviators are hosed down with water or champagne by their friends and family. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers)
Renaissance Conde, daughter of U.S. Air Force Col. Ben Conde, 23d Wing vice commander, spray paints her dad’s feet at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, June 3, 2021. As a tradition, his footprints were placed on a tile to be displayed on the ceiling of the 41st Rescue Squadron heritage room. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers)
U.S. Air Force Col. Ben Conde, 23d Wing vice commander, celebrates after completing his final flight at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, June 3, 2021. As a command pilot, Conde has flown more than 3,300 hours, to include 500 hours of combat time in Iraq and Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers)
U.S. Air Force Col. Ben Conde, 23d Wing vice commander, poses with his wife Reina, right, and daughter Renaissance at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, June 3, 2021. Conde completed his “fini-flight,” a long-standing Air Force tradition that traces its roots back to the World War II when pilots would commemorate their final combat mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers)