'Honor Flight' Allows Veteran 
 To Visit WOrld War II Memorial


 The Memorial Plaza



Frank Dutko didn't make it to the fight when World War II was raging across Europe and the Pacific. 
But he did make it to the memorial in Wash¬ington, D.C., dedicated to all those who served in the greatest of all wars.
"It was a personal goal of mine to see it," said DUtko, who lives in Gulf Breeze, Fla. "[But] it's too far to drive."
Instead, DUtko, 85, who served 30 years in the Air Force, including a stint with the New Jersey Air National Guard, 
took advantage of the Honor Flight program, which seeks to bring
every World War II veteran willing and physically able to visit the memorial on Washington's mall.
Dutko joined about 100 other veterans April 30 for the inaugural Emerald Coast Honor Flight from Pensacola, Fla.
"To me, the World War II Memorial was really awe-inspiring," said Dutko, who said a prayer at the memorial 
for "the guys who didn't come back."
Asked about his World War II service, Dutko, said, "That was one of those deals where I wasn't a hero, you might say."
Dutko's flying career began in 1942 when he was chosen for the U.S. Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet Program, 
earning his pilot's wings and a commission as a second lieutenant.
The war was on and he volunteered to fly fighters "every chance [ got. "
Instead, Dutko was made an instructor and taught others to fly at the airfield in Winfield, Kan., until 1944. 
He was finally selected for assignment as a fighter pilot, but was sent to the Panama Canal Zone,
 where he flew P-39s and P-38s.
Discharged in 1946, he was in the Air Force Reserves until 1949 when he was chosen to be part of the 
initial cadre of pilots assigned to the 141st Fighter Bomber Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.
After a variety of assignments, he joined the 361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron in Viemam and flew
123 electronic reconnaissance missions in EC-4 7 s. He retired as a lieUtenant colonel in 1972.
Despite not reaching combat in World War n, his time teaching others to fly was not without its dangers.
"We were losing instrUctors about tWo or three a class," he said.
So his link to the memorial is valid. Also, his brother, Joe, served with Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army, 
making it home safely at war's end.
(Another brother, Robert, later served in the New Jersey Air Guard and on the NGAUS board of directors.)
Met by volunteers at Reagan National AirpOrt who cheered and salUted, and feted again by 500 people 
when they returned to Pensacola that evening, the men felt appreciated every step of the way, he said.
All these years later, Dutko has reached a peace with his service during World War II, 
even if he missed out on the fight he wamed so much to join.
	"[ don't regret it now," he said, "but
at the time, [ was highly ticked off."
More information about the Honor Flight program is available at www.honorflight.org.
NATIONAL GUARD
-By Ron Jensen



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