The Latest: 108-year-old veteran won’t fly in WWII-era plane

CHICO, Calif. – The Latest on plans to take a woman believed to be the oldest living female military veteran on a flight (all times local):

1:30 p.m.

The president of a non-profit group says a 108-year-old woman believed to be the oldest living female military veteran changed her mind about flying aboard a World War II-era biplane.

Darryl Fisher says Lynn Balmer decided not to get on the flight Monday morning. She was scheduled to take off from Chico, about 90 miles north of Sacramento.

The flight aboard a restored 1940s Boeing Stearman had been arranged by Fisher’s non-profit group, the Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation.

The foundation says Balmer served in the U.S. Coast Guard, working as a coder while stationed in Seattle. The Chico Enterprise-Record reports that she enlisted during World War II. She achieved the rank of lieutenant.

The aircraft was the same type of plane used to train military aviators during World War II.

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7:30 a.m.

A 108-year-old woman believed to be the oldest living female military veteran is set to be honoured with a flight aboard a World War II-era biplane.

Lynn Balmer is scheduled to take off Monday morning from Chico, California, about 90 miles north of Sacramento.

Her flight is courtesy of the non-profit group, the Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation, which honours seniors and U.S. military veterans.

The foundation says Balmer served in the U.S. Coast Guard, working as a coder while stationed in Seattle. The Chico Enterprise-Record reported she enlisted during World War II. She achieved the rank of lieutenant.

The organization’s president, Darryl Fisher, restored a 1940s Boeing Stearman — the same type of plane used to train military aviators during World War II.