It will be a historic day on November 13th when a former World War II prisoner of war from Pine Bluff will be inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock.
Pine Bluff native Col. Virgil Meroney II, Lt. Gen. Glen Moorhead and Kevin Vondran will be inducted for their contributions to aviation history in Arkansas, according to a news release from the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society.
Col. Virgil K. Meroney II was born Feb. 16, 1921, in Pine Bluff and served as a pilot in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
During World War II, Meroney became a flying ace, credited with destroying nine enemy aircraft while flying the P-47 Thunderbolt, making him the only P-47 Ace in the 352nd Fighter Group, according to a biography on the historical society’s website.
On April 8, 1944, Meroney was strafing a German airfield when he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, forcing him to bail out of the damaged P-51. He was then consequently taken by the Germans as a prisoner of war. One year later, Meroney escaped German captivity and returned to American forces, according to the biography.
During the Vietnam War, Meroney flew 141 combat missions in the F-4 Phantom II, including one with his son, Virgil Meroney III. After his son was killed in combat in 1969, Meroney retired as a U.S. Air Force colonel in 1970.
Meroney died June 27, 1980, and is buried in the Graceland Cemetery in Pine Bluff. His decorations for his service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross (7), Purple Heart, and the Air Medal (16).
Meroney will be the ninth members of the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society Hall of Fame from Pine Bluff.
The others are:
■ Adm. John S. Thach — 1981;
■ Brig. Gen. John D. Howe — 1984;
■ Brig. Gen. William T. Seawell — 1985;
■ Maj. Gen. Lewis E. Lyle — 1996;
■ Co-Pilot Wilbur West — 2003;
■ Bill Miles — 2022;
■ Bob Blankenship — 2023;
Kenneth Wayne Johnson — 2024;
