66 percent of Pacific air force assets destroyed in hours

A burned U.S. B -17C after the Empire of Japan attacked Wheeler Air Field Dec. 7, 1941. The attack well known for crippling the U.S. Pacific Naval Fleet also left approximately 700 U.S Airmen killed or wounded and 66 percent of the Air Force strength in Hawaii decimated. The Japanese lost only 29 pilots from more than 350 planes launched from aircraft carriers north of Hawaii. (Courtesy Photo/Tai Sing Loo, Pearl Harbor's main cameraman 1918 to 1948)

Wheeler, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941

Resourceful aircrews remove parts from a P-40 destroyed in the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Wheeler Air Base for us on other repairable aircraft.

Wheeler, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941

Members of the Hawaiian Air Force's Headquarters Squadron, 17th Tow Target Squadron and 23d Materiel Squadron watch Japanese high-Ievel horizontal bombers heading toward Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. (John W. Wilson)

Wheeler, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941

A report entitled “7 December 1941: The Air Force Story” compiled by the Pacific Air Forces Office of History obtained this photo of Wheeler Air Field taken by a Japanese Empire pilot to record the battle damage to the U.S. Air Forces Dec. 7, 1941.

Old Glory Dec. 7, 1941

Old Glory waves over Hickam Field, bearing silent witness to the brutality of the Japanese attack Dec. 7, 1941. This same flag later flew above the United Nations charter meeting in San Francisco, over the Big Three conference at Potsdam, and above the White House Aug. 14, 1945 when the Japanese accepted terms of surrender. It was part of a historical display at the Air Force Academy until returned for permanent display at Hickam Air Force Base in 1980. (Air Force Photo)

Korean War Armistice

(U.S. Air Force graphic/Corey Parrish)

Former U-2 pilot posthumously awarded Silver Star

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presents the Silver Star, posthumously awarded to Capt. Francis Gary Powers, to the captain’s grandchildren, Francis Gary “Trey” Powers III and Lindsey Barry, on June 15, 2012, in the Pentagon. Captain Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960, and received the decoration for the heroism he displayed while held prisoner by the Soviets. He was released in 1962 but subsequently died in a 1977 helicopter crash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christina Brownlow)

Former U-2 pilot posthumously awarded Silver Star

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz celebrates with Gary Powers Jr. and Dee Powers, children of Capt. Francis Gary Powers, after Schwartz presented the captain’s posthumous Silver Star to the family on June 15, 2012, in the Pentagon. Captain Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960, and received the decoration for the heroism he displayed while held prisoner by the Soviets. He was released in 1962 but subsequently died in a 1977 helicopter crash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

Former U-2 pilot posthumously awarded Silver Star

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presents the Silver Star, posthumously awarded to Capt. Francis Gary Powers, to the captain’s grandchildren, Francis Gary “Trey” Powers III and Lindsey Barry, on June 15, 2012, in the Pentagon. Captain Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960, and received the decoration for the heroism he displayed while held prisoner by the Soviets. He was released in 1962 but subsequently died in a 1977 helicopter crash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

Doolittle Raid 70th anniversary

Surviving Doolittle Raider Major Thomas C. Griffin, navigator of the #9 plane, greets attendees of a banquet to honor the Raiders during their 70th reunion at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, April 19, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)

Former POW shares reintegration tips with reservists and their families

Then-Capt. Lee Ellis arrives at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1973, after spending more than five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Ellis shared his tips for reintegration with Air Force reservists and their family members at a Yellow Ribbon event in San Diego on Feb. 25, 2012. (Courtesy photo)

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Francis Collier

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Francis Collier receives a commemorative graphic and challenge coin from Chief Master Sgt. Corliss Johnson, the vice president of the National Capital Region Chiefs Group, while his wife, Lillian, looks on during a ceremony Oct. 29, 2011, at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va. Collier was one of 625 Airmen promoted to the new grade chief master sergeant as a result of the Career Compensation Act of 1958. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Tiffany Trojca)

40th Tuskegee National Convention

Pearlie Harvey, right, congratulates her husband, Ret. Lt. Col. James Harvey, left, at the Gala Dinner for the Tuskegee Airmen 40th National Convention, August 6, 2011, at the Gaylord National Hotel, Md. Colonel Harvey received the Noel F. Parrish Award, the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., highest of honor. This award recognizes outstanding endeavors to enhance access to knowledge, skills, and opportunities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Erik Cardenas)

Roy LaGrone art

Tuskegee Airmen Byron Morris (left) and Raymond Hart attend the Roy LaGrone art exhibit unveiled in the AF Art Gallery Feb. 15, 2011, at the Pentagon. Mr. LaGrone was a Tuskegee Airman before pursuing a career in art. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)

1st Lt. Jack W. Mathis

First Lt. Jack W. Mathis was the lead bombardier in a B-17 Flying Fortress squadron on a bombing run over Vegesack, Germany, March 18, 1943. Lieutenant Mathis was mortally wounded from antiaircraft fire, but dragged himself to his bomb sight to complete the mission. He died at his post. Due to his heroic actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

Project Score

On Dec. 18, 1958, the Air Force placed in orbit the first artificial communications satellite, a Project Score relay vehicle integral with the four-ton Atlas launcher. The next day, the satellite broadcast a taped recording of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Christmas message--the first time a human voice had been heard from space. (U.S. Army illustration)

Capt. Darrell R. Lindsey

Capt. Darrell R. Lindsey saved the lives of an entire bomber crew and gave his life to do so over the Seine River in France during World War II. His actions earned him the nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

2nd Lt. William Lawley Jr.

On the first day day of "Big Week," when the Army Air Forces wrenched control of the sky from the German Luftwaffe during World War II, then-1st Lt. William Lawley showed extraordinary bravery and courage in bringing home a crippled aircraft with a barely functioning crew. It was Feb. 20, 1944 and the mission was to bomb a factory in Leipzig, Germany. For his actions, he was awarded the nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

Col. Neel Kearby

Col. Neel Kearby's ambition was to become a fighter pilot; not just a pilot, but the one with the most kills, the "ace of aces." On one of his missions in the Pacific Theater, he showed his daring and superior flying skill by shooting down six enemy aircraft against insurmountable odds. For this mission, he was awarded the nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

Gen. Leon W. Johnson

During Operation Tidal Wave, the most highly decorated military mission in U.S. history, Gen. Leon W. Johnson was the leader of a group B-24 Liberators that took off on an 18-hour, 2,400 mile round trip mission to destroy the largest Nazi-held oil refinery at Ploesti, 30 miles north of Bucharest, Romania. Five Airmen, including General Johnson, earned the Medal of Honor that day in 1943. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

1st Lt. James Fleming

On Nov. 28, 1968, then 1st Lt. James P. Fleming exposed his UH-1F helicopter to intense hostile fire while rescuing a special forces reconnaissance patrol. Lieutenant Fleming balanced on the edge of vulnerability over the jungles of Southeast Asia, thereby receiving a Medal of Honor for his gallantry. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

2nd Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes

On Aug. 1, 1943, Operation Tidal Wave took off for the oilfields of Ploesti, Romania, to make a dent in the German war machine. Second Lt. Lloyd "Pete" Hughes was in the last of the formation and despite the consequences, completed the mission. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

Lt. Col. Pierpont M. Hamilton

Lt. Col. Pierpont M. Hamilton volunteered for a perilous mission to go through enemy lines to convince the Vichy French to stop their hostilities and unite with the Allies with Col. Demas Craw. His actions saved untold American lives in the campaign to overtake French Morrocco, earning him the Medal of Honor along with Colonel Craw. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

First Lt. Donald J. Gott

First Lt. Donald J. Gott was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously May 16, 1945, for his heroic exploits during a bombing raid over a German industrial area November 1944. (U.S. Air Force illustration)