Four to Be Added to Aviation Hall

By John Nolan Staff Writer

DAYTON — A founder of Southwest Airlines, a World War II flying ace, an aerobatic competition champion and a naval aviation pioneer will be the newest additions to the National Aviation Hall of Fame as its Class of 2008.

The enshrinees announced Friday by the hall are Herbert D. Kelleher, a founder of Southwest Airlines; Clarence E. Anderson, a retired Air Force colonel who was a World War II triple ace and test pilot; aerobatic competition champ and instructor Sean D. Tucker; and the late William A. Moffett, who created the organization and infrastructure on which naval aviation was established during World War II.

The four are to be enshrined at the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s annual dinner on July 19 in Dayton.

That is also the scheduled weekend for the annual Dayton Air Show. Officials of the air show said Friday they hope to arrange for Tucker to fly in their show at the Dayton International Airport, since he will be in the city already for his hall of fame enshrinement.

“The plan is that he’s going to fly,” said Michael Emoff, chairman of the board of trustees of the U.S. Air and Trade Show, the air show organization.

Terry Grevious, the air show’s executive director, said he had talked with Tucker but will not finalize the show’s 2008 performer lineup until January.

“We have not finalized a deal with him yet,” Grevious said. “The Dayton Air Show looks for the best people, and he’s certainly one of them.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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