Pearl Harbor and WWII Survivors to Join Bud Anderson at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor Gala

PRESS RELEASE – More than a dozen Pearl Harbor and WWII survivors are expected to join WWII Triple Ace Fighter Pilot and Congressional Medal recipient Col. Clarence “Bud” Anderson at this year’s 9th annual Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor gala, December 5, at 6 pm.The event is the Museum’s largest fundraiser of the year, and for many WWII survivors, serves as a prelude to the December 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration at Kilo Pier, Pearl Harbor.“It’s such a privilege to host these WWII heroes at our signature event,” said Kenneth DeHoff, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor Executive Director. “The evening is intended to honor the spirit of the men and women who serve our country, and what better way to do this than in the presence of Pearl Harbor and WWII survivors in this historic Hangar 79.”During WWII, Col. Anderson served two combat tours, escorting heavy bombers over Europe in the P-51 Mustang from November, 1943 through January, 1945. He flew 116 combat missions and destroyed 16.25 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and another one on the ground. In addition to his Congressional Gold Medal of Honor,Col. Anderson has been decorated 26 times, including 2 Legion of Merits, 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star, 16 Air Medals, The French Legion of Honor, and the French Croix de Guerre, as well as many campaign and service ribbons.

Themed, “For Love of Country—Pass It On,” this year’s gala will remember the past, honor the present, and inspire the future, while raising funds for the Museum’s education and restoration programs. The event takes place in the Museum’s historic 86,000 square foot WWII Hangar 79 – its windows still riddled with bullet holes from guns fired on December 7, 1941.

Highlights for the evening include:
7:15 pm: American Flag Art Explosion by Speed Painter and Artist Michael Ostaski.
8:00 pm: Partnership announcement and unveiling of commemorative Nose Art emblem for Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor’s B-17 Swamp Ghost by Greg Coleman, VP of Worldwide Marketing & Franchise Management at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
8:45 pm: Keynote address by WWII Triple Ace Fighter Pilot and Congressional Gold Medal of Honor recipient Col. Clarence “Bud” Anderson. Special performance by American Idol finalist Jordon Segundo
This year marks the 74th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, and according to the United States Navy, more than 40 Pearl Harbor survivors are expected to attend the December 7 commemoration ceremony.

About the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor 

Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to develop and maintain an internationally recognized aviation museum on Historic Ford Island that educates young and old alike, honors aviators and their support personnel who defended freedom in The Pacific Region, and to preserve Pacific aviation history. For more information visit www.pacificaviationmuseum.org.