Freedom is Not Free
It is very relevant that we must preserve these valiant legacies for the next generation of Americans. Whether against totalitarian states during WWII, or global terrorism today. Our courageous men and women in the Armed Forces have paid that price for all Americans. An Airman Story is hereby dedicated to their service and commitment. A new generation of Americans has answered the call to duty. They are the vanguards of freedom. They are selfless, courageous individuals, who are freely giving their today’s, for our tomorrows. We owe them so much. Help a military family, hire a veteran, help honor and support our men and women who serve in the Armed Forces.
- Leon J. Delisle
“Those of us who lived have to represent those who didn't make it”
- BGen. Joe Foss USAF [Ret.] USMC Fighter Pilot 1943 Guadalcanal Congressional Medal of Honor
“Freedom has a taste, and to those that fought for it, the taste is so sweet that the protected will never know...”
- Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. USA
Col. James B. Morehead USAF (Ret.)
Fighter Pilot - Ace
Heritage Photo Gallery
WWII WASPS - Women Air Service Pilots
“You have shown that you can fly wingtip to wingtip with your brothers. If ever there was a doubt in anyone’s mind that women could become skilled pilots, the WASPs dispelled that doubt in WWII.”
- General Henry H. Arnold: General of the Air Force.
Those ladies of their era still have the passion for flight. The images all tell a story of dedication. They attended a fly-in some years ago where these images were taken. I was there. Full of life and zest they were. I admired their unbridled Patriotism. They are Exemplar to the American "Can Do" virtues. - Leon J. DeLisle
"You don't need legislation to prove something...you can be whatever you set your heart and head to be, and don't let anybody tell you you can't be, because 1078 women pilots did it in World War II."
- WASP Annelle Henderson Bulechek 44-W-2
Aces’s Row - WWII
Jim Swett Ace, USMC - CMH Guadalcanal
"7 in a Day"
C.E. "Bud" Anderson, Triple Ace - 357th FG
P-51 "Mustang."
Herb Ross Ace MTO 12th AF
P-38 "Lightning."
Jeff DeBlanc
USMC F-4-U "Corsair"
"5 Victories in 5 Minutes"
VP Harry Truman (Left) and Jeff DeBlanc USMC - CMH Guadalcanal
Alex Vraciu - Fighter Pilot
"6 in a Day"
F-6-F "Hellcat."
Will Scheible ETO 8th AF Ace
P-47 "Thunderbolt."
Robert "Bob" Scott AVG Ace - "Flying Tigers"
P-40 "Warhawk."
P-38 "Lightning."
Henderson Field, Guadalcanal 1943 - P-400 Besby Holmes Ace
Besby Holmes Ace - Henderson Field, Guadalcanal 1943
Hunter Killer Team - Get Yamamoto!
P-38 "Lightning."
David McCampbell
USN All-Time Leading Ace
34 Victories - Recipient CMH
"9 in a Day"
F - 6 - F "Hellcat."
General MacArthur
Gen. George Kenney, 5th AF Commander - Dick Bong
Dick Bong, America's "Ace of Aces"
40 Victories CMH
The Hunters
Both Men Were Recipients CMH
Dick Bong: 40 Victories - Tommy McGuire: 38 Victories
Neither Survived WWII
Top Guns 357th Fighter Group
Top Guns 357 Fighter Group
Browning - Anderson - O'Brien - CO. Graham
Tommy Hayes - SWP 49th Fighter Group. ETO 357th Fighter Group
Victories Scored in Two Theaters of Operations
P-51 "Mustang."
"The English Ladies Welcome the Yanks
Relaxing on the Wing or a B-17 "Flying Fortress."
Kit Carson - 18 Victories
"FW-190 Shot My Canopy Off"
P-51 "Mustang."
Escort Duty
Jenkins - England - Murphy - Carson
Glen Davis
Chuck Yeager
"5 in a Day"
P-51 Cockpit
P-51 "Mustangs" Stacked Up
Former WWII Combatants meet in Friendship
Hub Zemke - Gunther Rall - Gabby Gabreski
Gunther Rall 275 Victories
Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn - Hub Zemke - Erich "Bubi" Hartmann
Barkhorn: 301 Victories - Hartmann: 352 Victories
Erich "Bubi" Hartmann - All-Time Leading Fighter Ace
Jim Brooks - WWII Korea
P-51 "Mustang."
“The Thousand Yard Stare”
Lt. James B. Morehead P-40 - P-38 Ace - SWP 5th AF 49th FG 1942.
P-40 “Warhawk”
“In the early dark days of the War out in the Pacific after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Imperial Japanese Air Power was clearing the skies of Allied aircraft in the SWP. By this time they had run us out of the Philippines, and pushed us way down to Darwin Australia in 1942. At Darwin, every time I rolled up my Canopy before I took off for a Mission I felt like I was closing the lid on top of my Coffin. Those were bad times for us in those days. The Japanese Pilots had 10 years of combat experience on us. We were a bunch of Greenhorns.”