Nowadays the name Red Raiders is associated with college and high school football teams. But during World II, the name was well known to the Japanese who experienced bombs falling on them from the American jet fighters flown by Red Raiders.

The Red Raiders achieved many firsts and are credited with numerous significant successful missions in the Southwest Pacific that helped win the war.

William Porter "Bill" Goodman, now 96 years old, was a Red Raider. He and other U.S. Air Corps members of his unit were part of the 22nd Bombardment Group of the U.S. 5th Air Force. The Red Raiders were the first land-based Army bombers to hit Formosa from the Pacific Ocean side. They left an important Japanese base in flames and received numerous accolades and recognitions, including a Presidential Citation.

"We were the beginning of pushing the Japanese back across the mountains of New Guinea," said Mr. Goodman.

For his heroic work, Mr. Goodman received the Sagamore of the Wabash from Gov. Mike Pence. It is the highest award the governor of Indiana bestows. The award was presented to Mr. Goodman at his home at American Village, a senior community operated by American Senior Communities in the Broad Ripple area.

Mr. Goodman, who was a 2nd Lieutenant piloting a B-24 bomber, was waiting his turn to take off from a Philippines base when he saw Col. Richard W. (Reid) Robinson's plane crash on take-off and all 10 occupants killed. Robinson was the leader of the 22nd. The name, Red Raiders, was in tribute to Robinson's flaming red hair, said Mr. Goodman.

"The reality of losing our buddies really hit when we returned from the day's mission. As we departed from our plane, we could see the footlockers of the dead airmen gathered up and ready to be sent home," said Mr. Goodman.

In all, Mr. Goodman flew 38 combat missions with the 408th Squadron, each of them flown with the vigor of a warrior wanting to settle the score. On more than one occasion, enemy fired knocked out some of his plane's engines, but each time, he was able to return safely back to the base. He remembers one incident when the landing wheels collapsed. The plane slid over 1,000 feet before it could be stopped.

Mr. Goodman acquired an illness known as jungle rot, an infection of the feet caused by wet boots, which forced him into a hospital. Six weeks later on Aug. 6, 1945, the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima; three days later, a plutonium bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, ending the war. More than 418,000 Americans were killed during the war, which claimed an estimated 60 to 80 million lives of civilians and soldiers.

Back at home waiting for his return were Mr. Goodman's wife, Marjorie, and their 13-month-old daughter, who he saw for the first time after his discharge. The couple later had a son. He left his hometown, Chicago Heights, Ill., and came to Indianapolis to be a district sales manager for Inland Steel, where he worked for 42 years.

In April 2013, Mr. Goodman was selected to be a part of Indiana Honor Flight No. 3. He was flown to Washington, D.C. and met by several hundred people waving flags and jockeying for a position to shake his and other veterans' hands.

Mr. Goodman was given the award during a ceremony at American Village.