Brigadier General Charles Elwood Yeager - World War II ace and the man who broke the sound barrier as depicted in screen classic "The Right Stuff." Chuck Yeager has had a bigger than life career, always poised on the edge of the envelope.
General Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. - Commander of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Under his leadership the men of the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group became renowned for never losing a bomber they escorted, a feat unmatched during the war.
Major General William Mitchell - Father of America's - Billy Mitchell -modern Air Force, Billy Mitchell predicted the First World War with Germany, the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, and predicted that planes would fly at a thousand miles per hour. As a private in Cuba, he taught himself the basics of aeronautics from a book, but later learned to fly from Orville Wright.
Commander Randall Cunningham - Vietnam fighter ace and the pilot the movie "Top Gun" is based on. A Vietnam war volunteer, "Duke" Cunningham joined the Navy to do his part. He didn't know that he would make his first air kill in January of 1972 and would become the first ace of the war by May of the same year.
General James Harold Doolittle - World War II national hero as depicted in the movie, "30 Seconds Over Tokyo," Doolittle was the recipient of the Medal of Honor for the first bombing strike against mainland Japan, a holder of many early aircraft speed records, a corporate and military leader in aircraft development, and was instrumental in creating the U.S. Air Force as a separate service.
Brigadier General James Stewart - Actor, warrior, and a great - Jimmy Stewart -American. He was America's leading man who wanted to serve his country during World War II. Jimmy Stewart was too thin to meet the Army Air Corps weight standards and stuffed himself for two days to just barely meet the standard. As a B-24 pilot, he built a reputation as a solid combat commander.
General Curtis Emerson LeMay - Was always the best bombardier, best navigator, and the best pilot in his unit. General LeMay developed the tactics to win wars from the air. He led the way as the Army Air Force smashed Germany, then Japan, achieving victory in World War II.
General Henry Harley Arnold - Leader of America's airpower assaults on Axis powers during World War II. Arnold was born in the age of horse and buggy and would lead America to the atomic age. He was taught to fly by Orville Wright and was schooled in air combat by Billy Mitchell. Hap Arnold took a nation unprepared for war to victory.
General Charles A. Horner - Vietnam War Veteran and the commander of 9th Air Force at Shaw AFB, SC who took his command to the desert in August of 1990. Chuck Horner commanded the largest, most accurate and effective air war in history.
General Russell E. Dougherty - Career officer who entered the Army Air Corps during World War II. A judge advocate in the late 40's, he left the legal world to fly bombers and refuelers. A planner in the joint arena for several tours, Russ Dougherty became the Commander-In-Chief of Strategic Air Command in 1974.
Colonel John Glenn - Marine aviator, the first American to orbit the earth, Mercury astronaut, U.S. Senator from Ohio, and Space Shuttle crew member at 77 years old. What else need be said? John Glenn is a true Legend of Airpower.
The son of a preacher man, Charles McGee believed that education was the key to equal opportunities for all races. He joined the Army Air Force at a time when its policies reflected the belief that blacks were incapable of succeeding in technologically complicated jobs. Without fanfare, McGee and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen proved the bigots wrong.
As a youth, Robert Morgan was a sweet-talking ladies man who rubbed elbows with the Vanderbilts. But WWII changed this lothario into a combat soldier-as pilot of the famed Memphis Belle, Morgan oversaw a crew that flew a successful 25 missions without losing a single member.
Carl "Tooey" Spaatz is one of the genuine characters of American aviation. In the wild and woolly days of flight, he was a guitar-strumming free spirit who often offended the military establishment. But over the course of his career, Spaatz did as much to shape the modern Air Force as any other single person.
Everyone knows the name Buzz Aldrin from the historic Apollo 11 landing. But before NASA, this famed astronaut was a Sabre pilot in Korea. After the war, he proved his mental prowess by knocking them dead at MIT, and jumping headfirst into the space program. Even today Aldrin just won't quit, working tirelessly to make space travel available to everyone, not just legends.
Joining Lockheed as a tool designer, Kelly Johnson became one of America's foremost aircraft designers. He developed more than 40 aircraft, from the U-2 to the F-104, and was the head of Lockheed's advanced development projects, known as the "Skunk Works." When he retired in 1975, this tool designer had become Lockheed's Senior Vice President.
John Alison was a kid from central Florida who dreamed of becoming a pilot, and grew up to be one of the best the United States ever produced. But Alison also traveled secretly with the highest level diplomats in the world, drove the getaway car when Americans fled the Nazi advance through Russia, and without orders set up a critical lend-lease supply to the Middle East.
She began her career as a beautician named Bessie Mae Pittman, but Jackie Cochran grew to become one of the most celebrated aviators of the day. After only ten years of flying, Cochran set 17 world records; she also founded the Women's Air Force Service Pilots, inspiring countless women to pursue their dreams in the sky.
The young woman from Elmira, New York with dreams of flying became not only the first female instructor pilot, but also the first space shuttle commander. The STS-93 was fortunate to have her as their leader, and we are fortunate to have Eileen Collins as a Legend of Airpower.
In 1960, Francis Gary Powers made headlines as the first U-2 pilot to be shot down. Captured in Russia, his safe return was demanded by the United States. Instead, the Russians sentenced him to ten years in prison, beginning the "U-2 Incident" and heightening Cold War tensions.
William Tunner was born in New Jersey, and grew up to become Commanding Officer of the Air Force's Ferrying Division. During the China-Burma-India conflict, he oversaw 71,000 tons of material delivered to a beleaguered China. After WWII, Tunner flew a total of 124.5 million miles as leader of the Berlin Air Lift, earning this Legend a Distinguished Service Cross from General Douglas MacArthur.
Viewed from the distance of nearly a century, the Wright Brothers don't seem as heroic as they really were. They had funny names and wore three-piece suits to the beach. To the modern eye, they look more like comedians than leading men. But they invented the science of aeronautics, thinking in three dimensions when the rest of the world couldn't move beyond two.
He grew up fascinated by rockets, but his family couldn't afford to send him to the elite schools that taught rocketry. Jim Lovell went instead to the Naval Academy, becoming a fighter pilot before joining the space program. Lovell became a household name when an oxygen tank on Apollo 13 exploded on the way to the moon.
On a scorching hot day in 1964, Lt. Everett Alvarez was shot down over Vietnam. He was sent to the Hanoi Hilton and would not know freedom again for almost nine years, earning the dubious honor of being the longest prisoner of war in Vietnam.
He had his first airplane ride at 12, and from then on he was hooked on flying. Paul Tibbets flew 25 missions in B-17s, including the first American Flying Fortress raid against occupied Europe. But Tibbets gained his fame-and notoriety-on August 6, 1945. On that day, the Enola Gay lifted off North Field with Tibbets and his crew en route to Hiroshima. At 9:15 am the world's first atomic bomb expl
In 1919 Igor Sikorsky landed on these shores from Russia dreaming of a career in aviation. His determination and faith in his own ability to build what many considered to be an impossible vehicle lead to the world's first practical helicopter. Because of this, the helicopter is an integral part of many difficult missions, including the saving of thousands of lives in both peace and war.
Born in Brooklyn, NY in July 1923, Donald Lopez got the unique opportunity to fly a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk with the 14th Air Force's 23rd Fighter Group, also known as The Flying Tigers, under the expert leadership of Gen. Claire Chennault, in China.
Wisconsin native Deke Slayton flew 56 combat missions in Europe during WWII, but is probably best known as one of the original Mercury 7. Though he was grounded due to a heart condition, Slayton filled a vital role well enough to fly in the early 1970s, and made his first space flight as pilot of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission.
Triple-ace and salty-tongued Robin Olds literally wrote the book on tactical air power. The son of a major general, Olds was born for combat. His distinguished career included 107 combat missions in World War II and 152 in Vietnam, and 17 kills in each. And along with Daniel "Chappie" James, he became part of a flying duo known as "Blackman and Robin."
He was born in Pensacola, FL, and spread his wings at the prestigious Tuskegee Institute. A gifted pilot, "Chappie" James flew 101 missions in Korea and 78 in Vietnam; in addition, he also single-handedly prevented an attack from Muammar Qadaffi in Libya, and rose above racism to become the first African-American four-star general.
Born to a father rumored to have had ties to Al Capone and the mob, "Butch" O'Hare was a Navy pilot whose name marks one of the world's busiest airports. He graduated the Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1937 and had amassed much experience as a fighter pilot when he got involved in World War II.
A prisoner of war in Vietnam for over six years, Sam Johnson nevertheless was able to rise from his desperate situation to become a Texas congressman. This Legend served his country for over 50 years, flying F-86 Sabre jets in Korea and the F-4 Phantom II in Vietnam. After his release in 1973, Johnson stayed in the Air Force until his retirement in 1979.
He was born in 1915 to a Norwegian-Scots family in South Dakota. Though he grew up poor, Joe Foss was able to scrape together $65 for flying lessons, and from then on he was hooked. After joining the Marines, Foss fought in WWII, racked up 26 aerial victories, and was awarded the Medal of Honor.
America's number two all-time ace, behind his good friend and rival Richard Bong, Thomas McGuire was born in Ridgewood, NJ in 1920. Although he only flew two years of combat in World War II, he was awarded America's highest awards, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, six Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts, and 14 Air Medals.
He was born in the small town of Waterproof, LA, but from an early age Claire Chennault thought big. He launched the theory of "defensive pursuit," and practiced what he preached as a leader of the Flying Tigers in China. A chain-smoking, hard-living man, Chennault seemed to come from another generation, but was beloved by all-even the notorious Chinese leader Chaing-kai Shek.
George McGovern has spent a large portion of his life in the political arena, holding office as U.S. Congressman for South Dakota for 22 years, as well as running as the Democratic presidential nominee in 1972. However, it is his outstanding military career that makes him a true LEGEND OF AIRPOWER.
Lorraine Zilner Rodgers was a member of The Women Airforce Service Pilots, known as the WASP, the first group of women pilots to serve the United States Army Air Force in WWII. Out of 25,000 women who applied to the program, Rodgers was one out of 1830 who were accepted.
James Stockdale spent his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam defying orders and doing everything in his power to stay true to his country. Stockdale remains one of the most highly decorated officers in the United States Navy, leading the U.S air squadron in the Gulf of Tonkin and earning 26 personal combat decorations, including four Silver Star medals.
Glenn Curtiss, an aviation pioneer, started out building gasoline engines and eventually went on to build his own aircraft company. Named the "fastest man on Earth" in 1907, when his motorcycle set a speed record of 136.3 miles per hour, Curtiss began constructing engines for airships. The first U.S. Army aircraft, was powered by a Curtiss engine.
David Lee "Tex" Hill was recruited to the American Volunteer Group, the group known as the Flying Tigers, in 1941. Under the leadership of General Claire Chennault, Hill was one of the top aces in the unit. After the deactivation of the Flying Tigers, Hill went on to fight with the 23rd Fighter Group, as well as the 75th Fighter Group.
Albert Scott Crossfield's military career spanned from flight and gunnery instructor to test pilot and record-breaking flyer. After attending an experimental flight test pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base, the outbreak of the Korean War left him to take full responsibility for the Edwards test program. Under his leadership, the program flourished.
Richard Bong was the top scoring ace of WWII, shooting down 40 enemy aircraft. He began flying his P-38 in the Pacific Theater in late 1942 and had already surpassed Eddie Rickenbacker's 26 kills by April of 1943. Bong achieved his 40th and final kill in 1944. He went on to become a test pilot of jet fighters, but died tragically on a routine flight when his P-80 malfunctioned after takeoff.
Amelia Earhart's remarkable aviation career was tragically cut short when Earhart and her navigator went missing over the Nukumanu Islands. Before her disappearance, Earhart's name became a household one, in 1932, when she was the first woman to make a solo-return transcontinental flight.
Eddie Rickenbacker's love of speed started in the form of auto racing. Rickenbacker raised the money to buy Indianapolis Speedway in 1927, where he had raced in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911. His attention turned to airplanes during WWI, when he enlisted in the army and after aerial gunnery training was assigned to the 94th Aero Pursuit Squadron, quickly becoming an ace fighter.
John Boyd was known as "Forty-Second Boyd" throughout the Air Force because of his promise to beat anyone in simulated air-to-air combat in forty seconds or less. He was taken up on his offer many times and never lost. Boyd turned his natural combat skills into teaching tools for his fellow pilots, coining his famous Energy-Maneuverability Theory.
Charles Bolden has logged more than 6,000 hours of flying time in his lengthy aviation career. Bolden enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduation from the Naval Academy and went on to fly more than 100 combat missions in North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Bolden graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and flew numerous test projects as an ordnance test pilot.
Harry Combs started his love affair with aviation at the age of 13 with a $2.50 ride in the cockpit of a mail plane. By his mid-teens, Combs was building his own flight-worthy aircraft. His education led him to try investment banking, a path that he would later modify to successfully run Combs Aircraft.
Richard "Steve" Ritchie was the only Air Force pilot named an ace during the Vietnam War. After completing his training at the Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base Ritchie in 1969, he became one of the youngest instructors in the school's history.