Retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Richard Cropley celebrates his 99th birthday with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 31, 2019. Cropley served his country for more than 20 years as a fighter/bomber pilot during World War II and flew multiple combat missions over the Pacific. Cropley’s birthday wish was to spend time with his Marine Corps aviation family and to see an MV-22B Osprey up close. - Retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Richard Cropley celebrates his 99th birthday with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 31, 2019. Cropley served his country for more than 20 years as a fighter/bomber pilot during World War II and flew multiple combat missions over the Pacific. Cropley’s birthday wish was to spend time with his Marine Corps aviation family and to see an MV-22B Osprey up close.