Major Jonas Pyragius

J. Jasevicius, J. Pyragius, Lendraitis

Lithuanian Air force Major
Born on 29 December 1901 or Jan 1 1902 in Birziai, coming from a farming family. In 1919 he entered the Lithuanian Army. In 1920 he enrolled in military school, by the end of that year he was promoted to artillery lieutenant and assigned to the Engineering division of the armoured vehicle.

In 1922 he graduated from the High Officers Course and assigned to the armoured vehicle command. In 1923 he was promoted chief First Lieutenant. In November that year he was assigned as Platoon Commander of an armoured division. In 1924 moved to Naval aviation, and in June 1925 became a pilot of the fourth air squadron. On the 13^th of February he was promoted to Major. 1932 10 appointed Squadron Commander.

June 1940The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and Jonas fled to Germany. During the German-Soviet war, he returned to Lithuania, led the rebellion against the Gestapo Lithuanian provisional government. Towards the end of 1944, moved to Germany. From 1947-48 lived in Gross Hesepe, Lithuanian refugee camp.

In June 1949 he emigrated to Australia. He was an active participant in the Lithuanian community and managed the Adelaide Lithuanian Museum and participated war veterans activities. He was a founding member of the Adelaide Lithuanian Association, their first secretary and later Vice-President. He curated the museum from 1970 to 1975.

Jonas died on the 14^th October 1975. He was survived by his daughter Ona Dalia Gordon. His wife passed away in 1969. When Lithuania regained its independence his daughter carried out his fathers wishes in donating his awards and collection to the Lithuanian Aviation Museum.
He was awarded numerous medals.

• Grade 4 Order of Gediminas (1928), DLK Gedimino 4 laipsnio ordinu (1928).Awarded to citizens of Lithuania for outstanding performance in civil and public offices.
• Medal of the Volunteer Founders of the Army (1929), Savanorio medaliu (1929).The medal was instituted oto acknowledge those who had participated in the War of Independence of 1918 to 1920.
  
• Lithuanian Independence Medal (1928), Lietuvos nepriklausomybės medaliu (1928). Awarded to those who rendered public service in the early days of independence (1918-1919).
• "Wings of Steel" Medal of Honour 1932, Plieno sparnų garbės ženklu (1932).