A former World War II prisoner of war from Pine Bluff will be among the three inductees in the 2025 class of the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Pleasant Valley County Club in Little Rock.
Pine Bluff native Col. Virgil Meroney II, Lt. Gen. Glen Moorhead and Kevin Vondran will be inducted for their contributions to aviation history in Arkansas, according to a news release from the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society.
Col. Virgil K. Meroney II was born Feb. 16, 1921, in Pine Bluff and served as a pilot in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
During World War II, Meroney became a flying ace, credited with destroying nine enemy aircraft while flying the P-47 Thunderbolt, making him the only P-47 Ace in the 352nd Fighter Group, according to a biography on the historical society’s website.
On April 8, 1944, Meroney was strafing a German airfield when he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, forcing him to bail out of the damaged P-51. He was then consequently taken by the Germans as a prisoner of war. One year later, Meroney escaped German captivity and returned to American forces, according to the biography.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
During the Vietnam War, Meroney flew 141 combat missions in the F-4 Phantom II, including one with his son, Virgil Meroney III. After his son was killed in combat in 1969, Meroney retired as a U.S. Air Force colonel in 1970.
Meroney died June 27, 1980, and is buried in the Graceland Cemetery in Pine Bluff. His decorations for his service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross (7), Purple Heart, and the Air Medal (16).
MOORHEAD
Lt. Gen. Glen “Wally” Moorhead was born in Smackover and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1969. He flew more than 50 combat missions in Southeast Asia. Over his 38-year career, he commanded A-10, F-117 and F-15E units, the USAF Warfare Center at Nellis AFB and the 16th Air Force and NATO Allied Air Command. He also served as the air component commander for NATO and European Union air operations in the Balkans.
Although he retired from active duty in 2006 with more than 5,500 hours of service, Moorhead has continued to mentor and advise joint NATO, Allied and Coalition forces. In 2023, he received the Air Force Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his contributions to the USAF and the U.S. Space Force, according to the news release.
VONDRAN
Kevin Vondran, who was born in Forrest City, discovered his passion for aviation early in life. He obtained his private pilot’s license by the age of 24 and proceeded to accumulate multiple ratings and certificates in the aviation field.
Vondran began flying as a fire pilot in 1998 and went on to revolutionize aerial firefighting with his Hydramax Fire Gate and Controller System, which is now installed in 99% of the U.S. fire aircraft fleet.
HALL OF FAME LOCALS
There are nine members of the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society Hall of Fame from Pine Bluff, according to a spokesman. They are:
Adm. John S. Thach — 1981;
Brig. Gen. John D. Howe — 1984;
Brig. Gen. William T. Seawell — 1985;
Maj. Gen. Lewis E. Lyle — 1996;
Co-Pilot Wilbur West — 2003;
Bill Miles — 2022;
Bob Blankenship — 2023;
Kenneth Wayne Johnson — 2024; and
Col. Virgil Meroney — 2025.
Tickets to the induction ceremony are $35 and can be purchased on the historical society’s website. All profits from the event’s ticket sales will help fund scholarships for aviation students in Arkansas. For more information about the Arkansas Aviation Historical Society, the inductees, sponsorships or to purchase tickets for the 2025 ceremony, visit www.arkavhs.com.