2024
This year’s honorees include Army and Naval Aviators from World War II, Vietnam and the Gulf War on Terror. As always, we will also recognize civilian accomplishments in commercial and general aviation, as well as continue to honor those who served with the RI Air National Guard, and aviation elements of the RI Army National Guard.
2023
We were honored to recognize 100-year-old Warwick native Dewey Turilli, who served as a radio operator on Iwo Jima in 1945, as well as Captain Charles F. Pratte, Jr., a B-24 bomber pilot from Warren, RI, killed in Action at Chichi Jima, January, 1945.In addition, the 2023 class includes a father-son pair who flew combat missions in World War II and Vietnam respectively, two long-time RING helicopter pilots who flew hundreds of hours of combat during the Vietnam War, and a well-known Providence auto dealer who flew with the RFC during World War I.
2022
After 2 years of social distancing, it was great to return. The group includes a living World War II bomber pilot, a Marine helicopter pilot from Barrington killed in action in Grenada, and four heroes from Vietnam: three living Army helicopter pilots who flew hundreds of hours of combat, plus a deceased pilot from the Navy’s only assault helicopter squadron. We honored the manager of the first scheduled commercial airline service to Hiilsgrove/TF Green Airport, as well as the avid private pilot who founded the Gregg’s Restaurant chain.
2019
2019 featured a Special Award to Thomas Prinster (1945-2018) and Lyle Hogg, who saved 11 lives on February 21, 1982 by successfully crash landing their burning commuter plane on the frozen Scituate Reservoir.
2018
During these centennial years of the US involvement in World War I, we will honor those who made significant contributions to aviation during that conflict. We will also continue our recognition of those individuals who served with (or supported) the RI Air National Guard, or aviation elements of the RI Army National Guard.
2017
During these centennial years of the US involvement in World War I, we will honor those who made significant contributions to aviation during that conflict. We will also continue our recognition of those individuals who served with (or supported) the RI Air National Guard, or aviation elements of the RI Army National Guard.
2016
As the selection subcommittee reviewed our ever-increasing inventory of candidates, it became apparent that a large number of them were individuals who served with aviation units of the RI Army National Guard (starting with the 152nd Observation Squadron in the late 1930s), or, after 1948, with the RI Air National Guard.
As a result, we decided that acknowledging the contributions of this group would be a multi-year process. Working with the Guard, we have developed a short list of 26 potential Guard honorees (either full induction or special recognition) and that list continues to grow as word of our plan circulates.
BG Christopher Callahan, RI Adjutant General, was Guest of Honor.
2015
2015 awardees have North Kingstown, Portsmouth, Coventry, Warwick, East Greenwich, and Woonsocket connections, and include attendees at Westerly and Woonsocket High Schools, St. Mary's Academy-Bay View, Providence College and Brown University.
Our Guest of Honor this year was Arizona Congresswoman and retired Air Force Colonel Martha McSally, a Warwick native and Bay View graduate.
2014
The Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame inducted three new members (one of whom is deceased), presented a seldom-given President’s Award and recognized the service of three others (also deceased) at a ceremony and dinner held at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Cranston on Saturday evening, November 22nd, 2014.
Vice Admiral and career Naval Aviator Walter 'Ted' Carter of Pascoag, now Superintendent of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, was guest of honor at the ceremony.
2013
Honorees for 2013 included a World War II fighter ace who flew with Chennault in China, a Naval Aviator who rose to leadership positions in three airlines, and a well-known philanthropist who was one of the first female flight instructors in the state.
2012
Awardees have connections to Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Wakefield, Newport, Warwick, East Greenwich, North Kingstown, Harrisville and Providence, and include graduates of Pawtucket and Samuel Gorton High Schools, LaSalle Academy and Providence College.
The guest of honor was Newport-born Marine Corps Major William D. Chesarek, the first American to receive Great Britain’s Distinguished Flying Cross since World War II. His exploits involved the daring rescue of a wounded British soldier in Iraq. Queen Elizabeth II presented his award at Buckingham Palace.
2011
From turn-of-the-century pioneers to fighter pilots, RIAHOF honors master aviators from throughout the 20th century.
2010
The 2010 honorees include Otto Hermann, described in 1909 as ''the first one (biplane) to be tried on testing grounds'' in Rhode Island, as well as Retired Air Force Major General and former Textron executive Bill Anders, one of the first three humans to view the dark side of the moon.
At the event, Anders described his experiences and his famous photograph, ''Earthrise,'' which he took on Christmas Eve, 1968. Along with the first pictures taken of the earth from the moon, Anders is perhaps best remembered for his inspirational quote, ''We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth.''
