HEC TV Documentary Celebrates World War II Veteran's Flight Over 70 Years After Flying In Pacific Battle of Guadalcanal

By Carmelo Turdo

By Mark Nankivil

HEC TV recently released a documentary about Mr. Tom Mohan, a 92-year old World War II veteran who received a recent Honor Flight in a Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bomber, the same type of aircraft he flew with U.S. Marine Squadron VMSB-232 at the Battle of Guadalcanal 1942-43.  Sponsored in part by the Missouri Aviation Historical Society, the effort to execute and document the flight quickly grew into a cooperative effort that included the plane and crew from the Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force from Peachtree City, GA that was coming into St. Louis for the Spirit of St. Louis Airshow May 2-4.  The Aero Experience commends all those who participated in making the flight and documentary video possible, and we are proud to link the video here and share some of our photos of the flight from the TAC Air ramp at Spirit of St. Louis Airport:

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Tom Mohan with pilot Wes Stowers (left) and Missouri Aviation

Historical Society President Dan O'Hara





Tom Mohan with U.S. Navy veteran and airshow pilot Alan  Armstrong (left) and Douglas Dauntless pilot Wes Stowers