Southwest Florida was a top spot for training pilots for action in World War II. After the war some of the servicemen returned to the area and some married local girls and made it their home. Bill Smith senior came from Tennessee to learn to be a pilot. He washed out of flight training school in Arcadia but stayed in the area during the war years - assigned to an Air Sea Rescue Unit. Here's his story:

Hear more about the fly boys and others who learned to soar over the skies of Southwest Florida on Untold Stories: A Wing and a Prayer - a production of WGCU pbulic television.