General John Charles Meyer was an American World War II flying ace, and later the commander-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. SAC was the United States' major nuclear deterrent force with bombers, tankers and reconnaissance aircraft, and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff coordinated the nation's nuclear war plans and developed the Single Integrated Operations Plan.
George Earl Preddy Jr. was a United States Army Air Forces officer during World War II and an American ace credited with 26.83 enemy air-to-air kills, ranking him as the top P-51 Mustang ace of World War II and eighth on the list of highest scoring American aces.
The United States Air Force's 347th Rescue Group is an active combat search and rescue unit assigned to the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.
Jay Thorpe Robbins was a career officer in the United States Air Force who rose to the rank of lieutenant general. He was also a United States Army Air Forces fighter ace of World War II.
The 359th Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Force fighter unit that was active during World War II. Following organization and training in the United States, the group deployed to the European Theater of Operations, operating from RAF East Wretham. The fighter group flew 346 combat missions over continental Europe and claimed 373 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and strafing attacks; probable destruction of 23; and damage to 185. It was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions. The group flew its last mission on 20 April 1945, then returned to the United States for inactivation.
The 339th Fighter Group was a unit of the United States Air Forces during World War II. It comprised the 503rd, 504th, and 505th Fighter Squadrons.
Lieutenant General Winton Whittier Marshall was a United States Air Force general and flying ace. He was deputy commander in chief, U.S. Readiness Command, with headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida before retiring in 1977.
William Thomas Whisner Jr. was a career officer and pilot in the United States Air Force, retiring as a colonel with 30 years of military service. He was a fighter ace with Army Air Forces over Europe in World War II and a jet fighter ace with the Air Force in the Korean War.
Cuthbert Augustus "Bill" Pattillo was a major general in the United States Air Force who served as director of plans and policy for the United States Readiness Command at MacDill Air Force Base. Patillo was well known in the aviation community as a pioneer in jet aerobatic demonstration teams and was highly decorated as a fighter pilot, serving in World War II and the Vietnam War, and was a founding member of the Thunderbirds, the US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron.
John William Mitchell was an officer of the United States Air Force, a flying ace and the leader of Operation Vengeance, the mission to shoot down Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. He served in World War II and the Korean War.
Gerald Richard Johnson was a World War II flying ace who flew for the United States Army Air Forces. Johnson commanded the 9th Fighter Squadron and 49th Fighter Group, and became the fourth ranking fighter ace in the Pacific during World War II. He ended his war career with 22 kills.
Glenn Todd Eagleston was a career officer in the United States Air Force and the leading ace of Ninth Air Force in Europe in World War II. Eagleston was credited with 18 1/2 victories, two probable victories, and seven damaged German aircraft. He also destroyed at least five enemy aircraft on the ground, while flying P-51 Mustangs with the 354th Fighter Group.
Robert Burdette Westbrook was a United States Army Air Forces lieutenant colonel and a World War II flying ace. Westbrook commanded the 44th Fighter Squadron, and became the leading fighter ace of the Thirteenth Air Force. He is also the ninth ranking fighter ace in the Pacific during World War II and also one of ten United States Army Air Forces pilots who became an ace in two different types of fighter aircraft.
Paul Page Douglas Jr was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force. During World War II, he flew the P-47 Thunderbolt in the European Theater of Operations and became one of the most highly decorated flying aces of the war. In 1968, he served as the commander of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing and flew a full tour of bombing and fighter missions over North Vietnam. He retired from the Air Force on 1970.
Philip Edward Tovrea Jr. was a U.S. Army Air Forces World War II flying ace who was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry and the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-38 Fighter Pilot of the 27th Fighter Squadron. He is credited with shooting down 8 enemy aircraft in aerial combat.
William Douglas Dunham was an American flying ace in the 348th Fighter Group during World War II, scoring 16 aerial victories. He retired from the United States Air Force in 1970 at the rank of brigadier general.
Robert F. Titus was a brigadier general and a career fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. Titus flew a combined total of 500 combat missions in Korean War and Vietnam War, and was credited in destroying 3 enemy aircraft in aerial combat during the Vietnam War.
Willard Wesley Millikan was a United States Air Force Major General and a flying ace, who was credited in destroying 13 enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II. He retired in 1969, after 28 years of distinguished service.
Frank Lewis Gailer Jr. was an American flying ace in the 357th Fighter Group during World War II, and a career fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. During World War II, Gailer was credited in the destruction of 5.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat before he was subsequently shot down and taken prisoner. During Vietnam War, he commanded a fighter wing and flew more than 200 combat missions.
Van Edgar Chandler was an American military officer and flying ace who was credited in destroying five enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II, becoming the youngest flying ace in the United States Armed Forces. He flew missions in the Korean War and Vietnam War, before his retirement from the United States Air Force in 1974 with the rank of colonel.
