The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Veterans Get Victory Lap in Indy Parade-- Part 4: Bob Pedigo's Trip to the WWII Memorial and Jimmy Stewart

Bob Pedigo gets choked up when he recalls participating in the Indy Honor Flight to see the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C.  When they left it, a group of about 300 junior high students lined the east side of the walk and applauded until the last ones had passed.  "That was the most touching thing on the trip."

Pedigo, 92,  was a nose gunner of a bomber serving in the European Theater with the 453rd Bombardment group.

He recalled beloved actor Jimmy Stewart, who was a decorated officer during the war who flew 20 missions over Europe as captain of a B-24 Liberator, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and rose to the rank of brigadier general before retiring from the Air Force Reserve in 1968, after seeing more action in Vietnam.

Stewart was Pedigo's briefing officer the day before the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France.

--GreGen

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