Aviation History

The Jolly Green Giants

The Sikorsky helicopter model HH-3E was afectionately called "The Jolly Green Giant" when it was deployed to Vietnam in the 1960s for Search & Rescue missions. This is the story of the aircraft...

Surviving A Vietnam Rescue Mission

Another fascinating story of heroism by a USAF helocopter pilot who refused to give up on the troops on the ground. Read the trial by fire Cpt. Gerald O. Young experienced and never gave up!

Unbroken Will

In this, the last of my articles on the Code Of Conduct and Vietnam, we read about a true hero who gave up his life at the tender age of 25 to protect South Vietnam and our country. This is his story.

Maj. George E. Day - Code Of Conduct - Part 3

Major Geroge E. "Bud" Day flew his USAF F-100 aircraft as a forward air controller in Vietnam. On 8/26/67 "Bud" was shot down over Vietnam and spent the next 5 1/2 years as a POW in North Vietnam. ...

Everett Alvarez Jr. - Code Of Conduct - Part 2

Read a fascinating story about a pilot who spend 8 1/2 years in the "Hanoi Hilton" as a Prisoner of War, and who was required to follow the Code of Conduct instituted into the U.S. Military by Pres...

The Code Of Conduct - Part 1

The Korean War, also known as the Forgotten War, was fought on the Korean peninsula from June 25th, 1950 to July 27th, 1953.  The Korean War was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought bet...

An Opportunity Almost Missed

The Man Gene Cernan was born on a warm day on March 14, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois. Little did his parents know that Gene would leave planet earth one day. It turns out that Gene Cernan was not onl...

The Provider

Heros come in all sizes, and in the military many heros come forth at just the right time with the right skills and the desire to serve.This story is about one such hero - Lt. Col. Joe M. Jackson/s...

"Puff, the Magic Dragon"

As a pilot it is easy to become attached to a particular type of aircraft that you just love to fly. I turned down my opportunity for flying for the airlines (too regimented for me) but did fly for...

Operation Firewall

On December 12, 1957, USAF Major Adrian E. Drew set a new  Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) absolute speed record over the 15/25 kilometer course at Edwards Air Force Base, California. ...

William "Billy" Mitchell, Father of the U.S. Air Force

William "Billy" Mitchell is considered the Father of the Air Force because of his early work promoting aviation to be used in the military. However, his career ended in disgrace because of his cont...

Eric "Winkle" Brown, Test Pilot Extraordinaire

Read the story of Eric "Winkle" Brown, Test Pilot Extraordinaire, also known as a pilot who was simply "the right stuff." Winkle is best known for being the first pilot to takeoff and land a jet ai...