Maj. John L. Jerstad

During Operation Tidal Wave, the most highly decorated military mission in U.S. history, 179 B-24s took off on an 18-hour, 2,400 mile round trip mission to destroy the largest of the Nazi-held oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Despite his aircraft in flames, Maj. John L. Jerstad completed the mission and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

Col. John R. Kane

During Operation Tidal Wave, the most highly decorated military mission in U.S. history, Col. John R. Kane flew one of the 179 B-24 Liberators that took off on an 18-hour, 2,400 mile round trip mission to destroy the Nazi-held oil refinery at Ploesti, Romania. Five Airmen, including Colonel Kane, earned the Medal of Honor that day in 1943. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

AGM-88 HARM firing

The AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile, or HARM, was successfully fired from a manned aircraft for the first time in 1976. The missile is an air-to-surface tactical missile designed to seek and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defense systems.

Lt. Col. James H. Howard

James H. Howard, as a major and fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces, he earned the Medal of Honor in aerial combat in World War II. He defiantly took on overwhelming odds to defend bombers on a mission to Oschersleben, Germany, Jan. 5, 1944. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

Japanese Balloon Bombs

On Nov. 3, 1944, the Japanese launched operational balloon bombs as a means of direct reprisal against the U.S. mainland as a result of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. The balloons, made of paper or rubberized silk, carried anti-personnel and incendiary bombs. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

First Lt. Raymond L. Knight

First Lt. Raymond L. Knight was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously Sept. 24, 1945, for his heroic exploits during bombing raids over German airfields April 1945. His Medal of Honor was the last one given to a U.S. Army Air Forces Airman in World War II. (U.S. Air Force illustration)