Presentation Date: September 22, 2011
Major Bailey Pendergrass Jr Army/Air Force
Major Bailey Pendergrass, Jr, certainly has had a full career, spanning from a paratrooper on Tinian in 1945 where he was wounded, to becoming a fighter pilot in the 1950's, serving in SAC, Vietnam, and finally flying for World Airways.
Major Pendergrass has flown P-51 Mustangs, F-80's, F-86's, B-47's, B-52's, F-4c's among other military aircraft. He shot down a Mig 15 near Lahr, Germany in 1956 while in the 91st Bomb Wing of SAC. He served in the Pacific Theater, North Africa in the 50's and later in Vietnam. After his long military career, he went on to fly with World Airways flying 707's, DC-8's, DC-10's and 747's.
He was on the famous rescue mission in Da Nang, Vietnam in 1975 with World's president Ed Daly. As Daly's aircraft taxied for takeoff, Daly literally fought people off the back doors of the 727 due to over crowing as the plane took off. Bailey orbited above, as his aircraft was too heavy to land.
Bailey fought two battles in his life, one of racism and the other for country, but giving up was never an option for him on his way to his achieving his dream!
A very special evening for sure!
Major Bailey Pendergrass, Jr, certainly has had a full career, spanning from a paratrooper on Tinian in 1945 where he was wounded, to becoming a fighter pilot in the 1950's, serving in SAC, Vietnam, and finally flying for World Airways.
Major Pendergrass has flown P-51 Mustangs, F-80's, F-86's, B-47's, B-52's, F-4c's among other military aircraft. He shot down a Mig 15 near Lahr, Germany in 1956 while in the 91st Bomb Wing of SAC. He served in the Pacific Theater, North Africa in the 50's and later in Vietnam. After his long military career, he went on to fly with World Airways flying 707's, DC-8's, DC-10's and 747's.
He was on the famous rescue mission in Da Nang, Vietnam in 1975 with World's president Ed Daly. As Daly's aircraft taxied for takeoff, Daly literally fought people off the back doors of the 727 due to over crowing as the plane took off. Bailey orbited above, as his aircraft was too heavy to land.
Bailey fought two battles in his life, one of racism and the other for country, but giving up was never an option for him on his way to his achieving his dream!
A very special evening for sure!