The Legacy

“Film is an unmediated dive into history. No one who went to war came back the same, there is a sense of loss.”
- John Ford, Motion Picture Director

An Airman’s Story is dedicated to preserving the legacy's and human life experiences from all eras within the evolution of military aviation. We are interested to chronicle and preserve these valiant histories for future generations in perpetuity.

We are archiving and preserving the proud legacy of the men and women who have served in America’s Armed Forces as Aviators. I strongly encourage you to direct your help and support to help preserve the untold stories of veterans who served as pilots, crew members, and ground support personnel. We welcome your participation to step forth, and share what subsequent generations of Americans need to know about the courage, dedication and the service of their predecessors. We will accept and cherish the donation of stories and personal memoirs of veterans. We will consider every letter or email from a veteran or relative who is willing to share their stories.

“Other Voices” offers a platform for family members to contribute to preserving the legacy of a departed loved one. They can share their memories, letters and experiences of their relative who served so valiantly. I am interested and available to interview you at your convenience. “An Airman’s Story” is hereby committed, and dedicated under the premise that our proud history will be carried on, and the dream of freedom shall never be vanquished in America.

“Inspiration springs from great traditions....guard the traditions of your service, built in the foothills of the Rockies and in the Air over Ploesti, Mig Alley, Red River Valley, and in a thousand other places.”
- President Ronald W. Reagan

Heritage Photo Gallery

“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our Ancestors who... looked enviously on the Birds soaring freely through space....on the infinite highway of the Air.”

- Wilbur Wright

H. H. "Hap" Arnold - Col. Clarence Tinker - MGen. Frank Andrews Hamilton Field, California, 1935 Col Clarence Tinker was the Base 1st. Commander Hamilton Field, San Rafael CA 1935. The Army Air Corps broke the race and color barrier long before the — H. H. "Hap" Arnold - Col. Clarence Tinker - MGen. Frank Andrews
Hamilton Field, California, 1935
Col Clarence Tinker was the Base 1st. Commander Hamilton Field, San Rafael CA 1935.
The Army Air Corps broke the race and color barrier long before the designated mandate in 1948 by Congressional Edict. Clarence Tinker was of Osage Indian roots from Oklahoma. He was a highly respected and deeply admired Officer by his men. He was a leader by example. MGen. Tinker flew the early WWII VLR Combat Missions in a B-24 in the *"Battle of Midway."* He led the way as a Major General leading the Combat Missions. Tragically he was lost without a trace. Tinker AFB lives on. Named in his honor.
*"The Airplane is the only Weapon which can engage with equal facility, on Land, Sea, and other Forces."*
- MGen. Frank M. Andrews, USAAC GHQ Air Force 1938

MGen. Frank "Andy" Andrews USAAC Commanding General GHQ Air Force, 1935 "Andy" was a adamant proponent for Air Power. He was 'passed over' for Promotion in prior years only because of his passion and vision for a new and separate Air Force. He was K — MGen. Frank "Andy" Andrews USAAC
Commanding General GHQ Air Force, 1935
"Andy" was a adamant proponent for Air Power. He was 'passed over' for Promotion in prior years only because of his passion and vision for a new and separate Air Force. He was KIA in bad weather in 1943 over Iceland in a B-24. It took men with vision like "Andy" to have helped create the Air Force that we have today in America.

P-26 Peashooters over San Francisco Bay, California

P-26 "Peashooters" from Hamilton Field over San Francisco Bay CA — P-26 *"Peashooters"* from Hamilton Field over San Francisco Bay CA

BOEING P-26 "Peashooter" - March Field, CA

1930 US Army Bombers Fly Over San Francisco 7th BG B-2s & B-3 Bombers - Crissy Field SF, California — 1930 US Army Bombers Fly Over San Francisco
7th BG B-2s & B-3 Bombers - Crissy Field SF, California

GHQ AF Gen. Staff 19th May 1937 Martin B-10 Bomber - Hamilton Field, CA General Frank Andrews USAAC — GHQ AF Gen. Staff 19th May 1937
Martin B-10 Bomber - Hamilton Field, CA
General Frank Andrews USAAC

B-17 E "Flying Fortress" — B-17 E *"Flying Fortress"*

OB-7 on Patrol Over Hamilton Field Late 1930s - San Francisco North Bay Area, CA

B-17 over Mount Rainier WA, 1939 B-17 E "Flying Fortress" — B-17 over Mount Rainier WA, 1939
B-17 E *"Flying Fortress"*

B-17 A-B EARLY MOD 1936-1939_pages-to-jpg-0011.jpg

U. S. Army Air Corps The "Wright Flyer" - XB-15 Prototype The Wright Brothers National Memorial Outer Banks - Kitty Hawk N. Carolina 1st Flight 17th December 1903 — U. S. Army Air Corps
The "Wright Flyer" - XB-15 Prototype
The Wright Brothers National Memorial
Outer Banks - Kitty Hawk N. Carolina
1st Flight 17th December 1903

B-17 E "Flying Fortress" Parked on tarmac at Wright Field Ohio 1938

ETO 8th AF B-17 Crew - East Anglia, 1944

Lt. Raymond "Hap" Halloran - Navigator 20th AF B-29er POW Tokyo Hap Halloran flew as Navigator in a B-29 called "Rover Boys Express." He was shot down on the 27th of Jan. 1945 at night over Tokyo, Japan. He was immediately captured on Japanese soil. — Lt. Raymond "Hap" Halloran - Navigator 20th AF B-29er POW Tokyo
Hap Halloran flew as Navigator in a B-29 called "Rover Boys Express." He was shot down on the 27th of Jan. 1945 at night over Tokyo, Japan. He was immediately captured on Japanese soil. Later Hap was taken to Omori P. O. W. Camp outside of Tokyo. Same barracks as the infamous Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington. They met under conditions of intense torture and starvation. They were later to become lifelong friends. Post WWII "Pappy" was to be the Recipient of the CMH. He was one tough Marine. His outfit in the SWP was called the "Black Sheep." Later in the 1970s it became a TV series. When Greg Boyington died in the late 80s. Hap was there for his old friend at Arlington National Cemetery. Hap delivered a sterling eulogy, on the life and times of "Pappy" Boyington. "Pappy" was indeed an Air Warrior!

SARAH P-40 "Warhawk" — SARAH P-40 *"Warhawk"*

Maintenance Crew Working in the Jungle, 1942 P-40 "Warhawk" — Maintenance Crew Working in the Jungle, 1942
P-40 *"Warhawk"*

Captured Japanese Zero - Darwin, Australia 1942 A6-M "Zero" — Captured Japanese Zero - Darwin, Australia 1942
A6-M *"Zero"*

Capt. James JB Moorehead Ace, 1944 - 1st FG Foggia, Italy 15th AF 1st. FG Foggia Italy. P-38 L "Lightning." 1945 — Capt. James JB Moorehead Ace, 1944 - 1st FG Foggia, Italy
15th AF 1st. FG Foggia Italy.
P-38 L *"Lightning."*
1945

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Front Page Story - December 7, 1941

Martin B-10 Bomber - Signal Corps July 12, 1939 — Martin B-10 Bomber - Signal Corps
July 12, 1939

Zemke's Last Birthday Party - March of 1994 (Hub Far Right)

Zemke's Last Birthday Party - March of 1994

Dick Bong, America’s Ace of Aces
P-38 L “Lightning”

G. H. Q. Air Force Personnel - Hamilton Field, CA. Feb. 1938
Douglas B-18 "Bolo" - 7th BG

Early Shark - Fin Tail model. B-17 E The “Swoose.” - Half Swan - Half Goose. Oldest Surviving intact B-17 today in Existence. The “Swoose” served as personal Transport during WWII for Lt.Gen. George George Brett, USAAF. Visiting Air Bases Globally. Late 1942 Capt. Frank Kurtz became aircraft’s 1st Pilot. Col. Frank Kurtz with the direct help of Gen. H H. Arnold Rescued the “Swoose” from Kingman AZ Scrap Yard. Flew her to HAFB N. SF Bay Area, CA. For a final Send off Luncheon 1949. Widely attended by the old Air Corps “Old Breed.” The Final Destination. USAFM Wright Patterson AFB, OH.

Saving the “Swoose” Celebration Dining In - January, 1949 Hamilton Air Force Base

There was a VIP Luncheon held in honor of saving Air Force History. Gen. Arnold called for a Luncheon to be held at the Hamilton Field O Club. Col Kurtz leans over and whispers he will depart and fly directly over Gen. Arnold’s Home Ranch in Glen Ellen. Few miles north of Hamilton Field. Gen. Arnold whispers back “Make it low Frank” and smiles. As Col. Kurtz bears down coming up at tree top levels to the Ranch House, throttles forward, to his surprise sees a white haired old man. Who is running back and forth on the lawn in front of his Home. With a tall pole with the American flag waving as he runs with it back and forth. Waving it at Col. Frank Kurtz. Needless to say, Frank blew off the wood shingles of the House. Knowing deep down, as he navigated up through the Sonoma Valley, on the final flight of the iconic B-17 D “Swoose” that he had made a grand old “Air Warrior” happy. Shortly thereafter; the General of the Air Force, “Hap” Arnold made his final flight West. With a smile on his face. Hap’s work was done.

- Col. Frank Kurtz, USAF [Ret.]
Mid 80s: Air Power Conversation with Frank Kurtz at his Home with Leon