Coming full circle: St. Joseph native returns home for one last flight with the Navy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A veteran Navy pilot touched down in St. Joseph to celebrate the end of a long career in the armed forces on Friday.

Lieutenant Commander Kory "CHOW" Hughs, a 41-year-old weapons system operator with the Navy, made a commemorative flight to Rosecrans Memorial Airport on Friday with his EA-18 Growler, a variation of the Hornet, to celebrate his years of service.

A large group of supporters and community members showed up to congratulate Hughs and take part in ground/cockpit tours at the airport on Friday.

"I went to college at Missouri Western. It's great to bring it (full circle) back to my hometown," Hughs said.

He still vividly remembers the spark that led him to join the armed forces: Watching Top Gun as a 5-year-old kid. Nationwide, the 1986 film sparked a significant increase in interest in naval aviation.

"I don't think I ever stopped watching it. That's where that itch you get when you're a little kid comes from. You look up to the sky and you don't ever stop," Hughs said.

Hughs then explained that while finishing his career in the Navy is bittersweet, he is eager to spend more time with his family, which he called his number one priority.

"Being 41 years old and figuring out what I have to do now that I'm grow up is not a bad place to be in," Hughs said. "I'm going to miss being able to just jump in a fighter jet, the dynamic maneuvering of flying an aircraft. But I am looking forward to retirement. Being able to finally not have to get stationed somewhere else."

Residents will get the opportunity to take part in another wide-ranging aircraft event on Saturday with Hughs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.. The event includes aircraft viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., flights over the community and Missouri Western, touch and go landings at 2 p.m. and ground tours at 2:30 p.m.