Gene Shriner, 90, spent a dozen or so minutes loading up into a two-person 1940s-era war plane on Tuesday afternoon. He was wearing an outfit he had planned the night before, along with a beige aviator helmet that held a pair of soundproof headphones tightly against his ears.

The Boeing Stearman biplane he rode in was brought to McMinnville by Dream Flights, a national nonprofit dedicated to honoring military veterans. Dream Flights gives free 30-minute plane rides to seniors who have served.

Shriner was one of the two veterans from Salem who had a chance to fly on Aug. 12. Oregon’s flights were coordinated by the Springs Living, a retirement and assisted living home with locations throughout Oregon.

“He was so excited,” Bert Shriner, Gene’s wife, said. “Oh, he had the biggest grin on h

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