Planes over water — AIR FORCE PHOTOS

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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B-47 Stratojet

An overall view of a Boeing B-47 Stratojet aircraft in flight April 7, 1956. It was the world's first swept-wing bomber. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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Veterans Day

Veterans Day originally was called Armistice Day to remember the cessation of hostilities for World War I. (U.S. Air Force illustration/Corey Parrish)

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Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

On Oct. 7, 1949, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam was named in honor of Brig. Gen. James Roy Andersen, who died on Feb. 26, 1945. Andersen was presumed lost at sea in the crash of his B-24 Liberator in an aircraft accident near Kwajalein Island on his way to Hawaii.

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Master Sgt. Henry Erwin

Master Sgt. Henry Erwin, Medal of Honor recipient, saved the lives of his comrades during an attack on Koriyama, Japan, April 12, 1945. He was the radio operator of a B-29 Superfortress. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

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Capt. Mel Apt

Capt. Mel Apt sits in the Bell X-2 rocket-powered aircraft at Rogers Dry Lake, Calif., near Edwards Air Force Base. He reached a speed of Mach 3.2 -- three times the speed of sound -- in the X-2 before it tumbled out of control and he was killed attempting to bail out Sept. 27, 1956. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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Col. Demas T. Craw

Col. Demas T. Craw volunteered for a perilous mission to go through enemy lines to convince the Vichy French to stop their hostilities and unite with the Allies. For his sacrifice he was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

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Maj. Ralph Cheli

Maj. Ralph Cheli led a squadron of B-25 Mitchells Aug. 18, 1943 over the heavily defended airdrome near Wewak, New Guinea. For his actions, in saving his men, Major Cheli was awarded the Medal of Honor. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

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XF-92A

The experimental XF-92A was the first true delta-wing aircraft. It was to serve as a flying prototype for a supersonic interceptor. The XF-92 program was cancelled without further production, but its design led to other delta-wing aircraft. (U.S.Air Force photo)

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Brig. Gen. Frederick Castle

For his bravery, Brig. Gen. Frederick Castle was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, during a mission over Belguim in December 1944.

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Chief Master Sgt. Duane Hackney

Chief Master Sgt. Duane Hackney was the first living enlisted recipient of the Air Force Cross during the Vietnam War. The three others before him were awarded the medal posthumously. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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Maj. Charles Loring

Maj. Charles J. Loring was hit repeatedly by ground fire during his dive while attacking enemy gun positions. Instead of withdrawing, Major Loring aimed his F-80 Shooting Star directly at the gun positions and crashed into them, destroying them upon impact. Major Loring received the Medal of Honor for his sacrifice. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

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