Iowa Aviation Museum to hold Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honoring three Iowa participants in the Doolittle Raid in World War II
GREENFIELD, IOWA (November 3, 2014) – On November 15, 2014 the Iowa Aviation Museum will hold its annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This year, three Iowa soldiers will be recognized. These brave men participated in the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders secret mission on April 18, 1942. The participants honored are U.S. Air Force Colonel Charles Ross Greening, U.S. Army Air Forces Corporal Leland D. Faktor, and U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant William J. Dieter. The ceremony will be held in Greenfield, Iowa, and will recount the events of April 18, 1942 for distinguished guests, family and community.
Themed “The Best Iowa Has to Offer” the induction ceremony will be held at the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield. The reception at the Cultural Center will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a banquet to follow. This is a coat and tie affair where reservations must be made in advance. The evening will consist of speakers setting the mood of America in early 1942, recounting the raid and telling the stories of these three brave Iowa men and their participation. The evening will conclude with a final toast to these three true American and Iowan heroes.
To date, more than 60 members of the Greening, Faktor and Dieter families, as well as the families of the crews of the 16 bombers have confirmed attendance for the ceremony. The families will meet at the Iowa Aviation Museum beginning at noon to get acquainted and then follow-up with interviews, an autograph signing and a personal tour of the museum.
This event is open to the public and all are requested to attend as the Iowa Aviation Museum honors these brave men; volunteers for a secret mission. Tickets can be purchased for $35 by contacting the Iowa Aviation Museum at aviation@iowatelecom.net or by phone at (641) 343.7184.
About the Doolittle Raid of World War II
This raid was in retaliation for the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor just four months earlier. After this and the Bataan Death March, the American people sorely needed a moral boost. The daring bombing of Tokyo provided that boost. The raid was done at the request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
About the Iowa Aviation Museum
The Iowa Aviation Museum, located in Greenfield, Iowa, became operational in 1988 by order of proclamation from Governor Branstad. The original mission of the museum was “to preserve, restore and display antique aircraft of the ‘golden era of aviation’ and related memorabilia for the education and pleasure of the public, and to honor Iowa aviators of the past, present and future.” Now, the museum is working toward storing and telling the history of Iowa’s rich aviation heritage (www.FlyingMuseum.com).
