4 World War II veterans take 'flight of a lifetime' on Veterans Day

SAN ANTONIO – Four World War II veterans from the Army Residence Community got to take a ride in a vintage PT-17 Stearman biplane on Saturday.

With the help of donors, the Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation was able to honor seniors and military veterans on Veterans Day, allowing veterans to go for a spin in the open-cockpit biplane.

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Flyers ranged in age from 87-96.

Learn more about the veterans who got to participate:

Dr. Eleanor “Memo” Bjoring:

Now 87-years-old, Dr. Bjoring served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953-1957 as a flight nurse during the Korean War. Her service in WWII was a s Civil Air Patrol Cadet while she was in
high school. Dr. Bjoring was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2016 for her  service in the Civil Air Patrol during WWII.
 
Bill Wakeland: 

Now 95, Wakeland served in the Navy from 1943-1965. During WWII he served aboard the battleship South Dakota during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
 
Bob Rogers:

Now 92, Rogers served in the Army Air Corp from 1943  to 1945 and then in the USAF from 1949-1976. He served in WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam Wards. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and flew 101 combat missions during his service.
 
Vernon Wold:

Now 91, Wold served 28 years in the Army. He served as a combat infantry man and was also a combat medic during the Korean Conflict Third Infantry Division in 1952.