World War II vet gets a special gift

Another member of the greatest generation was honored Wednesday in Colorado Springs.

Col. Thomas Barr flew combat missions over Europe during the Second World War.

Barr named his B-17 Southern Comfort in hopes of getting the attention of the maker of his favorite drink.

Wednesday – 70 years later – he finally got a case of the bourbon from the maker, who even made a special bottle and box for Colonel Barr.

He told us that even though he took fire several times, he was simply doing his job.

“I never worried about getting shot down – and I know we lost airplanes (through) mid-air collisions…a lot more were shot down by anti-aircraft fire stuff like that. And you realized that (those) people weren’t there anymore,” he said.

Barr would go on to serve until 1974. He also flew missions in Vietnam before moving on to a position at the Pentagon.