Image of the Air Force wings with the museum name underneath

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Fact Sheet Alphabetical List

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  • SA-2 Surface-to-Air Missile

    Developed in the mid-1950s, the V-750 Dvina was the first effective Soviet surface-to-air missile. The Soviets used it to shoot down Gary Powers' U-2 over the USSR in 1960 and Maj. Rudolph Anderson's U-2 over Cuba in 1962. The missile was better known by the NATO designation SA-2 Guideline. The

  • Service Flags and Pins

     Note: This exhibit is located in the Early Years Gallery.Service flags are symbols of love and patriotic pride that families feel for their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers who serve in the military during wartime. Usually hung in home windows, these small banners are a tribute

  • Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham

    Air Force Cross, 2002CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF THE AIR FORCE CROSS _______________________________________________________Awarded for actions during the Global War on TerrorThe President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, U.S.C., awards the Air Force

  • Sgt. Timothy A. Wilkinson

    Air Force Cross, 1993Timothy Wilkinson received his commendation for his efforts to rescue the crew of a downed UH-60 and a ground team near Mogadishu, Somalia. Wilkinson volunteered to remain on the ground and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire during the 18-hour engagement. Click here to

  • Staff Sgt. John D. Harston

    Air Force Cross, 1975John Harston was a flight mechanic aboard a CH-53 helicopter which was shot down during the Mayaguez rescue. Though wounded and dazed from the crash, he laid down effective covering fire with a rifle salvaged from the burning wreck. At great risk to himself, he also pulled a

  • 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