Aviators

Willa Beatrice Brown became the first African-American woman in the U.S. to earn a commercial pilot’s license and trained hundreds of the men who later became the Tuskeegee Airmen.

Magda was a highly decorated pilot during World War II and beyond. After surviving being stranded at sea in 1942, he went on to become an ace pilot at just 23 years old, shooting down enemy aircraft and leading a fighter plane division. He set speed records and served with the Blue Angels before tragically losing his life in a crash during the Korean War in 1951.

General Russell Dougherty served as chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, headquarters of NATO’s Allied Command Europe and later as the commander of the Strategic Air Command.

After graduation from Western Kentucky University in 1974, Col Terry Wilcutt taught high school math for two years prior to entering the Marine Corps. After overseas deployments to Japan, Korea and the Philippines, he became a Naval Test Pilot. While serving as a test pilot/project officer Wilcutt flew the F/A-18 Hornet, the A-7 Corsair II, the F-4 Phantom, and various other aircraft. He has over 6,600 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft. Wilcutt became an astronaut in 1991 and is a veteran of four space flights- pilot on STS-and STS-79, and mission commander on STS-89 and STS-106.

Colonel Ray Nutter showed extreme bravery and heroism on October 18, 1966, while leading a helicopter team in Vietnam. He flew his aircraft into heavy fire to rescue a friendly force, even after other evacuation helicopters had failed. His helicopter was hit, the other pilot was killed, and Major Nutter was injured. Despite this, he led his crew to safety through enemy territory, killing two attackers with his knife. They endured harsh conditions and enemy fire all night before finally making contact with friendly forces the next day. Colonel Nutter was a highly decorated soldier in the Vietnam War, with awards including the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star.

As a Marine, Col. Mac Reynolds served around the world, including flying and eventually commanding Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), where he flew four different U.S. presidents. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Presidential Service Badge.

April 15, 1986, Lt Col Arnie Franklin led 18 F-111s from Royal Air Force Station, Lakenheath, England, on a mission to bomb three targets in Libya while the U.S. Navy simultaneously bombed two other target areas near Benghazi. The mission demonstrated U.S. resolve and served as a warning against continued Libyan-sponsored terrorist attacks around the world. The grueling mission lasted more than 14 hours with numerous refuelings. The bombing run over Libya lasted a long 2 minutes.

After receiving flight training in both the US and France, Victor Strahm was assigned to the 91st Aero Squadron to carry out aerial photographic reconnaissance to supplement land intelligence. Planes were involved in frequent dog fights. During his flights in this war, Victor shot down a total of five German airplanes.

Gen Dan Cherry served as a brigadier general and a career fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. Cherry flew a combined total of 285 combat missions in F-105 Thunderchiefs and F-4 Phantoms during the Vietnam War, and was credited with destroying 1 enemy aircraft in aerial combat.