After a two-year COVID hiatus, the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame will resume its in-person recognition of those who have contributed to our aviation heritage. The event will take place on Saturday evening, Nov. 19, at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Cranston.
RIAHOF has been recognizing the state’s aviation heroes since the Centennial of Aviation in 2003. The group has honored those with Rhode Island connections who have made contributions in various ways: pilots, inventors, aeronautical engineers, airline execs, manufacturers − even an aviation artist.
As you might imagine, the ranks of previous honorees are sprinkled liberally with military veterans. Rhode Islanders began serving their country in the air as far back as the Civil War, when the Allen brothers answered Lincoln’s call and flew observation balloons for the Union Army. This tradition continued through two World Wars, Korea and Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan and in the numerous brushfire conflicts in between.
Wearing one of my other hats, I head up that organization.
The 2022 group of honorees is composed of 10 new inductees and one special recognition awardee. The evening will be highlighted by posthumous recognition of Barrington Marine Cobra helicopter pilot Lt. Jeffrey Scharver, who was killed in action at the age of 25 during the 1983 invasion of Grenada.
At the other end of the age spectrum is John Stellitano of Westerly, a B-17 bomber pilot who survived 36 missions over Germany during WWII. He will celebrate his 100th birthday in March.
This year’s Galkin Award, named for the Hall of Fame’s most generous benefactors, goes to aviation pioneer Allen Bourdon, an early test pilot, designer and aircraft manufacturer.
This award, first given in 2017, is named after Warren and the late Robert Galkin. It is given to an individual whose contribution to aviation includes the advancement of the field, be it through technology, design, implementation, exploration, bold initiative and/or risk-taking.
Pawtucket native Ted Fuller is the recipient of the 2022 President’s Award, given to a Rhode Islander who was involved with aviation but who made his primary mark in another field. Fuller, an avid private pilot and aircraft owner, is best known for his success in transforming Gregg’s Restaurants into the Rhode Island institution we know today.
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Honorees are selected by an ad hoc committee representing a number of aviation groups. The committee includes all previous inductees, such as Robert Crandall, former chairman of American Airlines; Jennifer Murray, the first woman to fly a helicopter around the world; and Apollo 8 Astronaut Bill Anders.
The event is open to the public; everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Tickets to the dinner cost $65 each and can be obtained by emailing [email protected], or logging in to the website at www.riahof.org. For further information, call (401) 831-8696.
Here are brief summaries of this year’s awardees, in alphabetical order:
Naval aviator; assault helicopter pilot with HA(L)-3, Vietnam; fixed wing patrol pilot and instructor; XO of USS Iwo Jima, which led the minesweeping operation in the Suez Canal after the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. A long-time North Kingstown resident, he retired in 1978, then taught history at Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. He was a highly successful competitive swimmer, and in his later years became a champion triathlete. Bartlett competed in multiple Ironman events, including the 2000 Hawaiian Ironman at the age of 70. He died in 2020.
An aviation pioneer and WWI instructor pilot, he also flew with Amelia Earhart. He moved to Rhode Island in 1917 to learn to fly at Gallaudet Aviation in East Greenwich. He became a designer and test pilot for Gallaudet and later set up his own manufacturing plant at Hillsgrove. Bourdon Aircraft Corporation produced the Kitty Hawk in 1928, the first commercial aircraft built in New England. He was a Vermont native who had a lengthy career as a Civil Aeronautics Board accident investigator. (Galkin Award recipient)
An Army helicopter pilot with almost 1,000 Vietnam combat hours, he earned the coveted Master Army Aviator designation. He retired from the R.I. Army National Guard after 26 years of service accruing some 7,000 total flight hours. Durfee has been a South Kingstown Reserve Police Officer for 25 years, and a Charlestown constable detail officer for 11 years. Since 2004, he has also been an assistant harbor master for the Town of Charlestown. Born in Wakefield, he graduated from South Kingstown High School and URI.
General Enright is the former Deputy Commanding General and Assistant Adjutant General-Army for the State of Rhode Island. As an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam, he accrued close to 1,000 combat flight hours. A Master Army Aviator, he retired from the R.I. Army National Guard after 40 years of service with almost 7,000 total flight hours. Born in Providence, he is now a Pawtucket resident. A Hope High School grad, he holds a BS degree from Bryant College and a master’s from Salve Regina University.
Fuller is the President’s Award recipient, given to a Rhode Islander involved with aviation who made his primary mark in another field. Fuller’s visionary entrepreneurship in the hospitality industry, combined with his extensive philanthropy, are the basis for this award. He founded and operated Gregg’s Taverns and Restaurants, and for decades was a force in the R.I. Hospitality Association. Flying was a lifelong passion, and he owned several different private aircraft. Born and raised in Pawtucket, he graduated from St. Raphael Academy and lived in Warwick. Johnson & Wales University awarded Fuller an Honorary Doctorate in 2003.
As an early transport pilot and commercial aviation executive, Harris led the American Airlines operations in Providence from inception in 1936 until he retired in 1962. He learned to fly at Harvard University in the late 1920s and went to work for Curtiss-Wright Flying Service in Boston, piloting a Ford Trimotor to and from Nantucket. Before joining American in 1935 he was a sales representative selling the helicopter forerunner known as Pitcairn Autogiros. Born in Falmouth, Mass., he was a longtime Barrington resident.
As an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam he flew more than 1,300 combat hours, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars and numerous other decorations. Colonel Pond is a Master Army Aviator with more than 7,800 hours of flight time. He is a two-time recipient of the Rhode Island Star, primarily for his long and successful tenure as an Aviation Safety Officer. A resident of Narragansett, he was born and raised in Massachusetts and holds a BS from Troy State in Alabama.
Strauss was a USAF and general aviation pilot with more than 12,000 hours of flight time. He flew tanker aircraft in the Strategic Air Command for three years. Best known as the long-time owner and manager of his family business, Eagle Cornice, he volunteered many hours on Angel Flight and Veteran’s Air Lift Command mercy missions. He flew children, combat wounded vets and families free of charge to clinics or hospitals for life-sustaining treatment. A recipient of the FAA’s prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, he was born in Providence. A longtime resident of Cranston, he graduated from Cranston East High School. He earned his undergraduate degree at Penn’s Wharton School and an MBA from Harvard.
Marine Corps helicopter pilot Scharver was killed in action in Grenada on Oct. 25, 1983. His Cobra was shot down during a rescue of fellow wounded Marine pilots. Scharver, an ROTC graduate of Ohio State University, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. At OSU, an ROTC classroom has since been renamed the Scharver Room. The USMC Reserve Training Center in Johnstown, Penn. was named for Lt. Scharver, as was a hangar at Marine Corps Air Station, New River, N.C. A Barrington High School grad, he is buried in Barrington.
This WWII bomber pilot, educator and athletic coach will turn 100 in March. He flew 36 missions over Germany in a B-17 Flying Fortress between December 1944 and March 1945. His plane was shot down and he and his crew were fortunate to survive. He is well known locally for his legendary exploits at Westerly High School, where he excelled as a student athlete and later as a coach. This lifelong Westerly resident holds BS and MS degrees in education from URI, and a doctorate from Boston University.
A Navy, Army and commercial pilot, Young joined the Army as a mechanic and switched to the Navy to go to flight school. After a tour as a Navy helo pilot, he resigned to fly commercially with TWA. He rose to the rank of captain, flying wide-body jets on international routes. In 1975 he joined the R.I. Army National Guard where he flew both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters until his retirement in 1997. He accrued a total of 18,742 flight hours. Born, raised and schooled in the Bronx, he attended Wheaton College in Illinois. He was a long-time East Greenwich resident.
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If you have a Veterans Day activity you wish to announce, please send it in this week to make sure we can publish it on Nov. 7.
Veterans Day 2022 free meals, discounts and offers; The national VA website has published a list of nationally available Veterans Day discounts, meals or other ways businesses and organizations want to honor veterans. The VA states: “These Veterans Day discounts, free meals and other programs are being shared so that Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors are aware of all resources available to them. Verify with the organization offering.”
The list is updated regularly as new offers come in. To access the list, follow this path on the VA website: Home / Vets Experience / #VetResources / Veterans Day 2022 free meals, discounts and offers
Or click on this direct link: https://news.va.gov/109711/veterans-day-discounts-free-meals/
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 3 p.m.: Military Women Across the Nation ceremony celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Military Women’s Monument will take place at the R.I. Veterans Cemetery in Exeter. The monument is adjacent to the chapel. For details, contact GinaMarie Doherty at [email protected] or (401) 500-1721.
Thursday, Nov. 3, 5-7 p.m., Veteran Voices Town Hall Series; the VA Providence Healthcare System announces the next in its virtual Town Hall Meeting series, using Microsoft Teams. Guest Speaker: Marine Corps Veteran Mark Ebenhoch, military technical adviser. He has worked on “Platoon,” “Born on the 4th of July,” “Tropic Thunder” and more. Each Town Hall is followed by a Q&A with VA Providence Healthcare System leadership to make sure your veteran voice is heard. Email [email protected] for a meeting invitation. Or call in (audio only) +1 872-701-0185 Phone Conference ID: 475 391 048#
Friday, Nov. 11, 11:30 a.m.: Cranston Veterans Day Parade; route will start at the Doric Avenue playground (corner of Doric Avenue and Arthur Street) and proceed down Park Avenue, past City Hall and end at Rolfe Square. Any veteran wishing to participate is welcome to join. If any veteran needs a ride we will try to accommodate their request. A ceremony at cannon memorial will follow immediately. Call Paul McAuley at (401) 780-3177 to confirm your spot in the parade and request a ride if needed.
Friday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Free haircuts for veterans at Amy’s Men Barbershop, 1086 Willet Ave., Riverside. Susan Pereira Buckley writes, “I have been cutting hair for 26 years, and I will be giving free haircuts to all who served… I feel this is a very important day and deserves recognition… my husband, his father and son all served in the Army.” No appointments will be taken. First come, first serve, but Susan promises to stay as late as necessary to make sure everyone gets a haircut. Her number is (401) 527-1730.
Every Thursday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.: Art Expression Group offered by the Providence Vet Center, 2038 Warwick Ave., Warwick 02889. Vet Center eligibility is required; artistic talent is not required.Service members and veterans, test your skills with a paintbrush. Free instruction provided by professionals. Email Heather Tarducci at [email protected] or call (401) 739-0167
To report the outcome of a previous activity, or to add a future event to our calendar, please email the details (including a contact name and phone number/email address) to [email protected]
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