DENISON, TX-- Things at Perrin Field look a little different now than they did when Major General Patrick Halloran last saw them, more than 60 years ago.

After more than three decades as a pilot in the United States Air Force, he returned to the runway, where his successful career took flight.

The meeting room at the Perrin Air Force Base Historical Museum was filled to capacity, Saturday, with guests eager to listen to the story of one pilot who made his way to the cockpit, purely by accident.

"They had just gone to the blue uniform," Major General Halloran, said. "This guy was sitting there, splendid in his blue uniform, and I thought, wow, that guy really looks nice, so I just went over to chat with him, waiting for the army guy. Thirty minutes later I was in the Air Force."

Halloran received a draft notice and went to sign up for the army just like his older brothers. When he saw the line was long, he walked across the hall to pass some time.

"I loved the challenge of it, everyday was a challenge, particularly as a student," he said.

Halloran completed his basic flight training at Perrin Air Base in 1949.

His career would take him to bases in Oklahoma, Georgia, Nebraska, Texas and Maine.

Specializing in high-altitude aircraft, Halloran learned to fly spy planes like the U2 and the SR-71, just as they were put into commission.

"I can still remember when I went to altitude for the first time, I passed all the altitudes that I had ever been to, and I kept on going, kept on climbing and I thought, wow, look at that altimeter its in an area I've never seen before," Halloren remembered.

With more than 11,000 total flying hours, Halloran retired from the Air Force in 1983 and was inducted into the aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.

He still flies his own recreational aircraft, which he brought in for the weekend from his home in Colorado Springs.

"I had the privilege of parking him, on the ramp out there and we tied him down, tied his own airplane down," Director of Museum Operations, John Elkins, said.

As he flew in, he remembered exactly where his love for flying began.

"Well I could see the hole base from the air, just like when I was a student flying a T6 trainer. It just seemed so surreal to look down on that base where i was 60 years ago," Halloran, said.

In addition to bringing special guests, like Major General Halloran to the museum, members are also preparing for a move into a larger building right next to the entrance of the airport.

Perrin Air Force base was in operation from 1941 until 1971, but now serves as a historical reminder of the progressions of military aviation.