The New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame (AHOF) held their 33rd Annual Induction Dinner on May 24, 2006 at the Fiesta Ballroom in Wood-Ridge. The public was invited to attend. The AHOF 2006 Inductees into the Aviation Hall of Fame included t he following who have contributed to the continuing story of aviation and aerospace in the Garden State:• Donald A. Luscombe (1895-1965): an innovative entrepreneur and aircraft developer at Mercer County Airport, West Trenton. • James O. Plinton Jr.(1914-1996): Tuskegee Airman and Pioneer African-American Airline Executive from Westfield, NJ. • George A. Vaughn Jr. (1892-1984): Second-ranking Flying Ace, Educator, Businessman and Military Leader who organized the first commercial company to build a hangar at Newark Airport. • Lowell E. White (1906-1995): Test Pilot, Chief Pilot, Operations Manager for Curtiss-Wright flying service at Caldwell Wright Airport in Fairfield, NJ and Bendix Aviation Corp. Although these new inductees have "gone west," their family and friends received bronze plaques on their behalf during the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame (AHOF) 33rd Annual Induction Dinner on May 24, 2006. These plaques will be on permanent display at the Museum. During the dinner, additional presentations were made to include the Fred Wehran Award which was presented to Greg Olsen and: • Thomas Thatcher: Flight Instructor, New Jersey Director of Aeronautics. • James Gilmore: Angel Flight Pilot/Organizer of Children of Chernobyl Charitable Airlift. • Paramus Flying Club for 50 years of fostering safe, affordable flying and camaraderie. Receiving the Aviation Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award was Linda Young, volunteer accountant for diligent service to the AHOF. The New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame was founded in 1972 and was the first state aviation hall of fame in the nation. Its goal is the preservation of the Garden State's 212 years of aviation and space heritage. For more information please call 201-288-6344. ###
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