Capt. Charles E. Yeager

Capt. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager in 1948. (U.S. Air Force photo)

SECAF Symington, CSAF Vandenberg

1948 -- Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington prepares to cut the cake to celebrate the first anniversary of the Air Force as Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg looks on. (U.S. Air Force photo)

General Henry H. Hap Arnold

EARLY YEARS -- Hap Arnold was a pioneer airman who was taught to fly by the Wright Brothers, and commander of Army Air Forces in victory over Germany and Japan in World War II: born Gladwyne, Pa., June 25, 1886, died Sonoma, Calif., Jan. 15, 1950. "Hap" Arnold, as he was fondly known and called, dating from his early days at West Point, was in the class of 1907 at the U.S. Military Academy. From then on his life paralleled the growth of America's air power and he personally contributed to most of the major milestones of development during the long period until he retired in 1946. Three years later, by act of Congress, he received permanent five-star rank as general of the Air Force, the first such commission ever granted. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Col. Paul Tibbetts in front of the Enola Gay

1940's -- ROSWELL ARMY AIR FIELD, New Mexico -- Col. Paul Tibbetts, Jr., of Miami, Fla., poses in front of his B-29 Superfortress "The Enola Gay" (named for his mother). The Enola Gay is the same plane he piloted when his bombardier dropped the first atom bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Betty Gillies

EARLY YEARS -- Mrs. Betty Gillies was the first woman pilot to be "flight checked" and accepted by the Women's Auxiliary Ferring Squadron. Mrs. Gillies 33 years of age, has been flying since 1928 and received her commercial license in 1930. She has logged in excess of 1400 hours flying time and is qualified to fly single and multi-engined aircraft. Mrs. Gillies is a member of the Aviation Country Club of Hicksville L.I. and is a charter member of '99, an international club of women flyers formed by Amelia Earhardt in 1929. (U.S. Air Force photo)

WASP

1940s -- These four female pilots leaving their ship at the four engine school at Lockbourne are members of a group of WASPS who have been trained to ferry the B-17 Flying Fortresses. (U.S. Air Force photo)