Operation Firefly will pay tribute to the Triple Nickel smokejumpers
By Terry Murry on Monday, March 25th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The All Airborne Battalion is staging an air event to pay tribute to the 555th Infantry Battalion at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton on April 13. The nonprofit organization plans a day full of activities including parachutists jumping from a World War II C-47 which will be held at 10 a.m. at the airport. A gate at the airport will open at 9 a.m.
That will be followed by an open house from noon-3 p.m. at the airport. The group then plans a dance and dinner at Hamley’s at 6 p.m. The all Airborne Battalion says attendance to all events is free. Details of how to attend the dinner/dance have not yet been released. It will begin at 6 p.m.
“The end goal of why we are doing this is to bring awareness to the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, a unit comprised entirely of African-American paratroopers during WW II,” retired Sgt. Jordan D. Bednarz, the event coordinator, said. “The first smoke jumps ever attempted, even by a civilian, were in 1939; and the U.S. Army didn’t even establish and airborne school until 1940, so these gentlemen were being given an incredibly new and challenging task.”
In addition to the parachutists, there will be several World War II vehicles, including firefighting trucks from the U.S. Forest Service and a half track. As more information becomes available, it will be posted under “Upcoming Events” at https://www.allairbornebattalion.com/.
