Each veteran and military personnel had their reasons for being at the Oregon National Guard Armory in Pendleton Saturday.
The National Guard partnered with the Pendleton Air Museum to organize the Doolittle Raiders Gala, a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the air raids on Japan during World War II led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, and featuring eighty soldiers based in Pendleton.
The gala was a day-long affair that featured vendors, a display with World War II era weapons and equipment, and military planes and vehicles from both World War II and modern day.
Ron Gonshorowski sat on a bench across from the “Heavenly Body” B-25 bomber flown from Madras to the National Guard air field specifically for the event.
Along with his dog Rhys, Gonshorowski traveled from his home in Dallas, Oregon, on a fact finding mission.
A veteran of the Vietnam War who served with 22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron, the Gonshorowski said he’s been researching whether he’s related to Bill Farrow, a Doolittle raider who was killed after being captured by the Japanese.
While Gonshorowski’s quest goes on, he arranged to fly in the “Heavenly Body” Sunday morning.
The “Heavenly Body,” a mural of a woman in a one-piece swimsuit and cape diving through the air painted on its side, became front and center when the National Guard did a wreath laying ceremony later that afternoon.
As a F-15 fighter jet flew over head and the National Guard honored the Army Air Corps’ 17th Bombardment Squadron,
Views: 11
