Preserving the history of the Mighty 8th
Meetings Are Free. Meetings are open to everyone. There is no cost to attend. You do not have to be a member in order to attend a meeting.
Doors open at 10:00 A.M.
A luncheon sandwich bar is available for $16
Don was a Tail Gunner on the Kenneth Hartsock Crew. They flew in the 614th and 615th Squadrons of the 401st Bomb Group, in the 94th Bomb Wing, of the First Air Division, Eighth Air Force. “The Best Damned Outfit in the USAAF!” Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire.
Because they arrived in late 1944, they were assigned to fly as many as 12 different B - 17s during their tour of duty. Their first mission was on 12-27-1944, to Gerolstein in “Chute the Works.” Their last mission was on 4-10-1945 to Oranienberg, in B-17G 43-38941. At least 3 of the B - 17s that they flew were shot down, thankfully not when the Hartsock crew was flying. They would complete 21 missions over Germany by the wars end.
Don’s civilian career included a stint in Redmond, Oregon, where he would take over an almost defunct radio station. His ingenuity and business sense resurrected that station into a profit-making enterprise. He also made a contribution to his community in Tualatin, Oregon. Where he served as a civilian employee with the Tualatin Fire Department and with Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, educating children and adults in Fire Safety and Prevention.
See you at the briefing!
On-line transcripts of available previous meeting presentations from 2002 to 2023
Local membership is open to all and Annual Membership cost is only $15.00. Link takes you to the signup Forms
August 8, 2023 Presentation: B-29 and F-94 collide between Tualatin and Wilsonville during mission practice.
November 11, 2023 Presentation: Veterans Salute meeting.
February 02, 2024 Presentation: "Beauty and Duty." speaker, Alice Miller.
May 11, 2024 Presentation: "The Bloody 100th Bomb Group" by Lt Col Terrence G. Popravak, Jr., USAF (Retired)
August 8, 2024 Mike Morrow and Chris Gattman, Aviation Historians "Two Pacific Northwest B-17 crash sites."
November 2,2024 Treasurer, Pat Keating about his trip to New Orleans and Paul Bazely, Pilot, DC -3 and C-53. Additionally, Paul Bitner will display his 1958 Ford.
November 2,2024 Alice Miller in her annual "Beauty and Duty" Valentine's Day presentation and "Patriot Pin Up," Central Oregon Chapter, a non-for-profit group of women volunteers and their mission, supporting services for veterans.