General Aviation on a Mission: World War II Veterans Take Huey Helicopter Flight Over St. Louis

By Carmelo Turdo

 

The Aero Experience presents the second feature story/video in our General Aviation on a Mission series and the first Flying with The Aero Experience story of 2025 all in one. The Midwest Aviation community teamed up to provide a recent flight over St. Louis to four World War II veterans, two Vietnam War veterans, two of their family members and a local news reporter in the iconic Huey helicopter. These veteran heroes were honored through the efforts of the volunteers who maintain and fly this aircraft at events throughout the year.

The Gateway STL Chapter of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation's (AAHF) hangar at Creve Coeur Airport was abuzz with activity on the morning of Tuesday, March 11. The ground crew prepared the Huey helicopter, and the pilots and safety crew chief briefed the flight details. Accommodations for coverage of the flight were made for the local media aboard the Huey and by a chase helicopter following at a safe distance during the entire flight. A hospitality area was prepared to receive the veterans and their families when they arrived, and carts were ready to transport them to the aircraft.  

The riders and crew gathered in the hangar at noon for refreshments and interviews by Fox 2 Now photographer/reporter Wade Smith before the flight:

(L-R) WWII veteran Sgt. Ken Luttrell, USMC; Vietnam veteran Lt. Col. Frank Kaveney; Gilmore Stone, AAHF Gateway STL Chapter President and Huey pilot; Petty Officer George "Curt" Davison, US Navy; Vietnam veteran Jim Seibert; Scott Rose, AAHF Huey safety crew chief; WWII veteran Capt. Ralph Goldsticker, USAAF; Lt. Col. Tom Bischoff, USAFR; and WWII veteran Cpl. Tom Lacey, US Army. (Not pictured: Eric Downing, AAHF Chairman and Huey pilot).

The flight was made possible through a network of St. Louis area veterans and local aviation organizations. The idea was developed out of recent conversations began by Lt. Col. Bischoff on the occasion of WWII veteran Ken Luttrell's 101st birthday and after Colonel Bischoff's flight in AAHF Gateway STL Chapter member Joe Steimann's Bell OH-58 Kiowa helicopter. Flying Mr. Luttrell and his three compatriots in the OH-58 would involve numerous separate flights rather than one shared experience. Steimann then worked out an arrangement with Gateway STL Chapter President Gilmore Stone and AAHF Chairman Eric Downing, both Huey pilots, for the ride opportunity in the larger Huey.

 

Joe Steimann's Bell OH-58A Kiowa

AAHF Bell UH-1H Huey

"I was a commander with the 157th ACOMS at Jefferson Barracks St. Louis, Missouri, when I met Dr. Despotis through a mutual friend, Christine Lieber," Colonel Bischoff told The Aero Experience. "'Doc' and Christine are very passionate about recognizing veterans, specifically our WWII vets. We look at opportunities, either military or civilian ceremonies, to recognize these warriors. One of the events was Ken's 101st birthday when I just got back from flying with Joe [Steimann] and I asked if the WWII boys would be up to go for a helicopter ride. Before I could finish, they all raised their hands and said, 'I'm in'. Next was coordinating with the Heritage Foundation, and the rest was taking in this amazing opportunity to share their experience!"

“Joe Steimann contacted me about the mission," Gilmore Stone, AAHF STL Gateway Chapter President, added. "Would we be available to fly four World War II veterans? We were certainly interested. Our mission is to connect the public with the American veteran. We use the helicopters as the vehicle, or tool, to help tell the veteran's story. It’s obviously exciting for folks to go for a ride in an historic aircraft. Joe introduced me to Colonel Bischoff, who arranged it, and our Chairman, Eric Downing, approved it and was actually one of the pilots. And that’s how the mission was initially generated.”

Flying in the Vietnam War-era Huey helicopter is a thrill for the public and veterans of any era. Gilmore Stone continued, "For World War II veterans, it’s more rare, just because there are not that many of them left. We’re engaging more and more Desert Storm, Gulf War, Afghanistan veterans that didn’t necessarily serve with these aircraft. Our ride program is our principal method for how we engage with the public. But, as a museum, we’re available to both exhibit the aircraft and also, in this case, honor individuals. We’ve taken Medal of Honor winners on rides, as an example. We’ve done funeral fly-bys. We go to larger events like air shows or county fairs, but we also do ride events generated ourselves right here at the hangar or another location where it’s just us."

The chapter's Huey helicopter is itself a veteran with an impressive operational career:

1969-1971 Sent new from the factory to Vietnam and served with 191st Assault Helicopter Company. The 191st slogan/nickname was the "Boomerangs" because boomerangs always come back!

1971-1975 Served with 5th Army at Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX

1976-1995 Served with the Alabama Army National Guard at Ft Rucker, AL

1995-1998 Retired and placed in storage

1998-Present Acquired by the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, restored, and FAA certified and painted with colors of A Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion (AHB), the largest AHB in the Army at the time

(Source: AAHF)

The flight took off at about 1:15 P.M. from the apron outside of the Gateway STL Chapter's hangar. Crew for the Huey flight were pilots Gilmore Stone and Eric Downing with safety crew chief Scott Rose. Accompanying the flight was the OH-58A Kiowa with pilot Nick Hisserich, safety observer Joe Steimann and photographer Carmelo Turdo of The Aero Experience. The flight proceeded south and circled the magnificent Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery to honor those veterans who have served and lay in rest. Heading north, the veterans were treated to a fly-by of the Gateway Arch along the St. Louis Mississippi riverfront before returning to Creve Coeur Airport.

We captured these views of the Huey flight: 

 

Safety crew chief Scott Rose had a unique perspective on the flight, sitting directly among the veterans in the Huey:

 

Meeting the guys was amazing. You’ve seen movies about these events and where these guys served. But to watch them still being able to get into the aircraft with some help was amazing. We got them situated; we got them comfortable. To look at their faces and just watch their eyes was a lot of fun. They really lit up at two points. One, when we were doing the cloverleafs over Jefferson Barracks. Being able to see that cemetery and pay our respects is one thing, but to see it from the air, it’s even more beautiful. Then, they really enjoyed the Arch fly-by. I just kept getting thumbs-up and smiles! 

Meet the WWII veterans: 

Sgt Ken Luttrell (USMC)

Sgt Ken Luttrell  (100 years old) enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps to join his friends and was inducted in 1942 at the Old Mark Building. Sgt Luttrell completed radio school and was assigned to the 1st JASCO (Joint Assault Signal Company), 4th Marine Division. Sgt Luttrell’s JASCO squad stormed the beaches and directed devastating naval gunfire from ships onto Roi – Namur (Feb 1, 1944); 2nd Wave on Saipan (June 16, 1944), 1st wave on Tinian (July 24, 1944) and the 1st wave on the infamous Iwo Jima (Feb 19, 1945) on Yellow Beach with the objective of Motoyama airfield. Sgt Luttrell witnessed the suicide by civilians who threw themselves off of the Marpi Point cliff based on false propaganda of Marine savagery. At 7 A.M. on Feb 21, as he was setting up a 20 ft naval telescoping radio antenna on Iwo, Sgt Luttrell was hit by a piece of shrapnel at high velocity that ripped through his left check and exited out his right cheek. Although semi-conscious and without vision, he struggled to get to the beach with the assistance of Cpl John Johnson. After being evacuated on a landing craft, Sgt Luttrell nearly drowned in his own blood until he managed to flip himself over while strapped down on a stretcher, allowing the blood to drain out of his airway. Sgt Luttrell required 9 operations to rebuild his facial bones in four separate hospitals, with the initial operations performed by a fellow St. Louisan ENT Specialist Dr Guerdan Hardy. He was honorably discharged on Nov 21, 1945, at Great Lakes Naval Station. Sgt Luttrell’s charge to Americans is to strive to keep our country great and to preserve liberty. 

Petty Officer George “Curt” Davison (USN)

PO Davison (99 years old) served as an Electrician’s Mate on the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. Rudderow that travelled to nearly 30 locations in the Pacific Theatre of Operations from 1943 to 1946. The USS Rudderow participated in submarine hunter-killer patrols, escort of resupply and troop reinforcement convoys and oversaw deployment of landing craft. PO Davison observed the suicide attacks on US ships by enemy pilots and the impact of a severe typhoon on his ship to the extent that the deck was under water. His ship also carried some of the soldiers who had survived the Bataan Death March after their release from prison camps. PO Davison was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in the summer of 1946. He believes that being in the U.S. Navy was an adventure and enabled him to see many places and become good friends with many sailors throughout the US. PO Davison recommends that no matter what your age, you should stay active. He as he has been awarded thousands of medals and holds several state, five national and one world record as a Senior Olympian. 

Capt. Ralph Goldsticker, B17 Bombardier

On July 6, 1942, Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet  Program. He then chose to become a bombardier and spent 6 weeks at the Laredo, Texas Air Gunnery School followed by 12 weeks of bombardier training and 6 weeks of navigation training. After being   commissioned as a 2LT, he was then sent to McDill Airfield in Tampa, Florida for 4 months of flying in a B-17. He then flew a new B-17 to England via NJ, Iceland and Ireland where they were assigned to the 8th Air Force, 452nd Bomb Group, 728th Squadron. The crew was sent in as replacements to the 452nd Bomb Group. The 452nd lost 14 of 24 planes on a mission to Brux, Czechoslovakia on May 12th. Lt Goldsticker completed the first of his 35 missions to St. Valery, France. he priority targets for the 8th AF were oil refineries, aircraft plants, ball bearing factories and railroad yards. Lt Goldsticker’s crew completed missions over Berlin, Leipzig, Regensburg, Munich, Schweinfurt, Stuttgart, and Merseburg, as well as two missions on D-day, June 6, 1944, that involved 14 ½ hours in the air. On a mission to Ruhland, Germany on June 21, 1944, his group lost 47 of 48 B-17s destroyed by German JU88 and HE111 bombers. On July 31, 1944, at 27,000 ft. over Munich, a blast of flak under the airplane knocked out two engines and severely wounded the copilot. Lt Goldsticker had to apply constant pressure to his wound to save his life. Overall, Lt Goldsticker flew 32 missions as a Bombardier and 3 as a Navigator and flew 19 of his missions on the Deuces Wild. When the war ended, Lt Goldsticker was a bombardier instructor in Big Springs, TX.  Lt Goldsticker was promoted to Captain during the Korean War.

Cpl. Tom Lacey

Cpl Lacey grew up on Wheaton, IL and enlisted into the U.S. Army on July 15, 1943. After completing basic training at Camp Fannin, he volunteered and completed Radio School (FM SCR 300s) at Camp Maxey and was then assigned Company C, 99th Infantry Division. After arriving in Liverpool in October of 1944, he was deployed to the European Theater of Operations and was trucked to the Siegfried line near Krinkelt in the Hurtgen Forest Campaign. On Dec 16, 1944, Cpl Lacey woke up to a heavy artillery barrage at the start of the Battle of the Bulge, and the 99th defensive positions were overrun by several German companies. His unit fought through relentless artillery barrages from both the enemy and US 105s, and he helped to evacuate one of his buddies (Red Netter) who had been hit. The 99th withdrew to an advantageous strategic position on the Elsenborn Ridge. They spent the next 3-4 days within foxholes on this infamous ridge, defending their position from the onslaught of German forces. The 99th assisted with a counterattack led by Sherman tanks from the 9th Armored. Cpl Lacey and his comrades in the 99th were the first to cross the Rhine at the bridge at Remagen in March 1944 despite being shelled by devastating 88 mm artillery fire. He was discharged at Ft Lewis on Feb 2, 1946. Tom leaves us with the following pearls: There is little correlation between rank and leadership; basic training is effective; the GI was not only a good soldier, but a good innovator; medics were brave, well-trained and effective; the Red Ball Express was instrumental in US victory; never hate your enemy; everyone has something good to offer to the world; you never know where the next hero will come from; and pray daily to your guardian angel. 

The Aero Experience audience may remember seeing WWII veterans Tom Lacey and Ralph Goldsticker in a previous story where they took Dream Flight rides in a Stearman trainer also at Creve Coeur Airport:

The Aero Experience: Dream Flights Honors Six World War II Veterans During Visits to St. Louis Airports

The Aero Experience thanks the Gateway STL Chapter of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation for being a gracious host and providing the Huey flight for these veterans and their family members. Chapter member Alexis Noel, who also serves as a safety crew chief at ride events and is a regular contributor to The Aero Experience, summed up the day perfectly:

This flight was a powerful reminder of why I love this organization so much. Watching these veterans take to the skies again, hearing their stories, and seeing their smiles was an unforgettable experience.