Duane S. Larson

Duane S. "Pappy" Larson (October 27, 1916 – September 20, 2005) was a brigadier general in the North Dakota Air National Guard. He served as a fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and commanded the 178th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the North Dakota Air National Guard in the 1950s. He is considered the “original” Happy Hooligan which was the moniker of 178th.

Biography Early life Pappy Duane Larson was born in Regent, North Dakota he escorted B-17 bombers to Berlin, providing cover against German fighters. ran a local airport in Mott, North Dakota He flew the B-25, C-45, C-47, T-6, F-51, T-33, F-94 and F-89 for the North Dakota Air National Guard and was the squadron commander during the Cuban Missile Crisis when the 178th was activated to regular duty. Larson was the first Air National Guard pilot to score a direct air-to-air hit on a drone. Larson rose to the rank of brigadier general by the time he retired from the Air National Guard in 1969 as Commander of the 119th Wing.

Post-military

Legacy There was a cartoon during the 1950s called Pappy Easter and his Happy Hooligans and the 178th Fighter Squadron began calling themselves the “Happy Hooligans” and Larson, as their commander, became “Pappy” as the senior pilot. In recognition of his contributions to aviation in North Dakota, Larson was among the ten inaugural inductees into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in March 1997.