At the 9th Annual Spirit of ‘45 Event, Tualatin veterans took to the skies in authentic WWII-era airplanes.
The event, hosted by the Dream Flights organization and sponsored by the Vital Life Foundation, aims to provide local veterans with the opportunity to fly in 1940s-era biplanes. Veterans from around Oregon met and flew over the Aurora State Airport on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13.
Twenty-eight veterans flew that Wednesday, one of whom was 80-year-old Tualatin Vietnam Veteran Bill Manderfeld, who described the experience as “a gift” shortly after he landed.
“It’s such a gift to veterans,” said Manderfeld after touching down on the runway of the Aurora State Airport. “I was just so excited when I heard about this, and I am very appreciative of the organization and all the volunteers that help out here.”
Manderfeld buzzed over top volunteers and event organizers in a yellow Boeing Stearman, nicknamed “The Spirit of the Pacific” and originally constructed in 1943. Manderfeld said he was very excited to fly in the plane and that the open cockpit “really appealed” to him.
“I like to see things like this that preserve the history,” Manderfeld said. “A little patriotism is a wonderful thing for vets, especially Vietnam vets.”
Manderfeld was recognized with the Purple Heart while serving in the infantry in Vietnam from 1968-1969. He flew helicopters and was promoted to sergeant before returning to his hometown of Portland in July of 1969.
Manderfeld’s flight was one of the first in this year’s two-day-long aviation event, and he and his co-pilot Marcus Smith were airborne a little after 9 a.m.
Johannah Senn, Executive Director of Vital Life, told Tualatin Life that the Spirit of ‘45 flights were a nationwide commemoration, but that the meeting in Aurora was “by far” their largest gathering.
“This one is by far our largest,” Senn said. “When we get to lunchtime we’ll have several, 300-400 people here today.”
The event honors Spirit of ‘45 Day, a national holiday celebrated on the second Sunday of August that marks the end of World War II. Senn explained that while the event/holiday began as a specific commemoration of World War II veterans, it had gradually grown into a larger recognition of all who have served.
Senn said that the event celebrates the service of all veterans and explained that participants tend to really enjoy the opportunity.
“The holiday has kind of expanded on to celebrate military service at large,” Senn said. “I’ve never seen a veteran finish their flight and not be happy…when they come down it’s like ‘I don’t want to get out of the plane. How can I bribe the pilot to go again?’”
The event was attended by members of the public, veterans’ family members, event volunteers and Oregon State Senator and Army veteran James Manning, who said the commemoration was “amazing.”
“This is really amazing to have the organizers of this event doing an exceptional job,” Manning said. “You see the smiles on the veterans’ faces…I am very grateful for the organizers, the families that are here today and for the veterans.”
Manderfeld was one of three Tualatin Veterans who got to go up in the air on Aug. 12. Fellow Vietnam veteran and U.S. Navy imagery analyst Larry Wittmayer and former Public Affairs Officer of the USS Yorktown Dale Potts were also at the event and flew later that afternoon.
“They’re flying this afternoon,” Manderfeld said about his fellow vets. “We meet every Wednesday morning for coffee for about an hour and a half or so. We didn’t meet this Wednesday because of this. It’s so nice to be part of a group of vets like that.”
Potts spoke on the phone with Tualatin Life and said he felt “kind of powerful” while up in the air.
“I was imagining I had an imaginary machine gun and was firing at Nazi planes,” Potts said. “I just felt like I could do about anything I wanted up there.”
Wittmayer, who had experience flying in the Navy, said the event was “totally awesome.”
“The aircraft that I flew in as the crew chief was a twin-engine jet, the largest jet the Navy ever had on a carrier,” Wittmayer said about his experience in the Navy.
Wittmayer said that he felt the event was a significant sign of appreciation for veterans and was grateful for Vital Life’s effort in putting it on.
“It really shows, number one, respect for what we did, and appreciation,” Wittmayer said.
Senn mentioned the positive impact of providing an opportunity for veterans to interact on a larger scale, noting that connection with other veterans was significant.
“A lot of them don’t even fly commercial anymore, so it’s just good for them to come out and have a moment,” Senn said. “We try to facilitate that environment here so that veterans are getting to interact with other veterans.”
For more information and photos from the Spirit of ‘45 flights, visit the Vital Life website at www.vitallifefoundation.org/events/spirit-of-45.
