Veterans Archives - Aviation Heritage Park

April 30, 2023

Brig Gen Ken Fleenor – F4 Pilot and POW

Brig Gen Ken Fleenor survived five years as a Prisoner of War after his F-4 was shot down flying over Southeast Asia. During his 28-year Air Force career, Fleenor amassed more than 5,400 flying hours and has 184 combat hours. His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal.

April 29, 2023

Lt Col Gerald Roark – Central Command

Lt Col Gerald Roark had a 22 year career in the Air Force flying the KC and EC 135. He created, equipped, and trained the Air Wing of the US Central Command. His military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

April 28, 2023

Lt Earl Wassom – B-24 Pilot

Lt. Earl Wassom flew the Consolidated B-24 Liberator with the 8th Air Force, 466th Bomb Group for 35 missions during WW2. He received 5 Air Medals, the Purple Heart and four European Campaign Stars.

April 28, 2023

Col Tim Vaughan – Desert Warrior

Col Tim Vaughan has logged 88 combat missions, totaling 264 hours, in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His list of decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal.

April 28, 2023

Capt Jacob Vaughan – Modern Air Warrior

Capt Jacob Vaughan is a member of the Oklahoma Air National Guard. He has received Top Gun awards for Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground warfare excellence for the Eighth Fighter Squadron. Capt Vaughan will deploy this summer.

April 28, 2023

Gen Joseph Ralston – Supreme Allied Commander NATO

From an Air Force ROTC student to commanding NATO, Joseph Ralston has become the senior ranking airman Kentucky has ever produced. Gen Ralston is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours, including 147 combat missions over Laos and North Vietnam, flying Republic F-105 fighter-bombers and F-105 Wild Weasel jets.

April 28, 2023

Col Pete Sullivan – Black Sheep Squadron

Col Francis "Pete" Sullivan completed 136 combat missions in the Vietnam War, flying the Douglas A4 Skyhawk and with VMA331 and VMA 214, the Black Sheep Squadron. Among his medals and awards, he holds eight Air Medals plus the Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and the Marine Corps Reserve Medal.

April 28, 2023

1st Lt Charles B. Moran – Night Fighter

Lt Charlie Moran flew B-17, B-26, P-61 Black Widow and the F-82 "Twin Mustang." He is credited with the first aerial victory of the Korean War. He was shot down just 40 days later. He died at age 26.

April 22, 2023

Lt. Col. Bobbie Pedigo- US Army Aviator

Lt Col Bobbie Pedigo started his military career as a KyNG private in 1951. He served two tours in Vietnam and became an instructor pilot accumulating 2000 hours of flight time- 1200 on fixed wing and 800 on rotary. His completed 51 years of federal service. Aviation Heritage Park salutes this Warren County Kentucky native.

June 1, 2022

CWO3 Charles Browning- Huey Pilot

CWO3 Charles Browning was a helicopter pilot serving with the 240th Assault Aviation Company flying out of the Lai Khe Base camp in Vietnam. Serving as a "slick" pilot he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, 26 Air Medals and a Bronze Star.