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  • Tech. Sgt. James H. Ledford

    Distinguished Service Cross, 1943While serving as an engineer on an unarmed B-26, James Ledford pulled the aircraft out of nearly fatal drive after the pilot was wounded. Refusing to bail out, Sgt. Ledford helped fly the aircraft to a safe landing at a friendly airfield.Click here to return to the

  • Private 1st Class Desmond R. Wilkerson

    Distinguished Service Cross, 1951Private 1st Class Desmond R. Wilkerson, a medic, volunteered to go on a mission in bad weather to rescue a downed Navy flier. At the scene, Wilkerson left the helicopter to help the pilot on board but was later killed when the helicopter crashed in poor

  • Staff Sgt. Henry E. Erwin

    Medal of Honor, 1945On a mission over Koriyama, Japan, Henry Erwin acted quickly to extinguish a fire caused by a faulty phosphorous smoke bomb. In the course of his actions, Erwin was severely burned, but the aircraft was saved.Click here to return to the Distinguished Enlisted Overview.

  • Staff Sgt. Archibald Mathies

    Medal of Honor, 1944After enemy fighters severely damaged his bomber and incapacitated the pilots, ball turret gunner Archibald Mathies and his fellow crewmen flew it back to their base. With one crewman too hurt to be moved, Mathies volunteered to attempt to land the bomber after the remainder of

  • Staff Sgt. Forrest L. Vosler

    Medal of Honor, 1943On a mission to Bremen, Germany, radio operator Forrest Vosler was hit twice by 20mm shrapnel after taking the place of the seriously wounded tail gunner. Despite his injuries, he managed to tend to the wounded tail gunner, repair the damaged radio equipment and send off distress

  • Staff Sgt. Maynard H. Smith

    Medal of Honor, 1943On his first combat flight over Europe, Staff Sgt. Smith's bomber took heavy damage. Acting quickly, he not only fought off enemy fighters and tended to the wounded, but also put out a serious fire. He was the first enlisted airman to be awarded the Medal of Honor.Click here to

  • Sgt. 1st Class Harold O. Nicholls

    Distinguished Service Cross, 1919Sgt. Nicholls repeatedly volunteered to act as a balloon observer in the last offensive of World War I. Three times he rose up beneath a hydrogen-filled balloon only to narrowly escape after it was hit by incendiary bullets. Fortunately, Nicholls survived to accept

  • Sgt. 1st Class Fred C. Graveline

    Sergeant First Class Fred C. GravelineFirst Enlisted Recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, 1919Sergeant First Class Fred C. Graveline was part of a small group of enlisted men who flew combat missions in World War I, and the first of only two enlisted men to receive the Distinguished Service

  • Air Force Orange County Chopper

    In 2005 Orange County Choppers Inc., in Rock Tavern, N.Y., built this motorcycle to support the Air Force Recruiting Service. Inspired by the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor, Orange County Choppers incorporated the Air Force symbol into the wheel rims and shaped the rear view mirrors to resemble the

  • R&R: Rest and Relaxation

    The 5th Air Force carried military personnel from Korea to Japan (usually from Seoul to Tachikawa near Tokyo) for badly-needed, three to five day R&R (Rest and Relaxation) leave. Many took the train from Tachikawa to visit Tokyo while others visited the peaceful surroundings of Japanese national