Category Archives: People

Fight’s On: The Aviator Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act – H.R 4886

Testimony of Pilot #37 On October 15, 2021 Commander Thomas ‘Boot’ Hill, Navy F-4 and F-14 fighter pilot, passed away from esophageal cancer. A-6 pilot Capt. Dave ‘Snako’ Kelly died from melanoma of the brain on 16 March 2014. Randy … Continue reading

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Last of the Few

Testimony of Pilot #36 I’m 104 and the last survivor of the Battle of Britain – I want to live to 106 to see my crashed plane fly again. Group Captain John “Paddy” Hemingway is the only surviving pilot of … Continue reading

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Hymn to a Humble Hero

Testimony of Pilot # 35

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National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day -Reflections

Testimony of Pilot #34 War and remembrance No matter the old, “smart” decision makers No matter the politics Or “statecraft” of the DC pundits It was our war We fought it Some lost years Some lost lives Some lost family … Continue reading

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Against All Odds – Killing MiGs in the Korean War with Naval Aviator Royce Williams (Part 2 of 2)

Testimony of Pilot #33 Will he finally receive the Medal of Honor? In San Diego Harbor on the USS Midway, now a museum ship , Capt. Royce Williams (USN, Ret) stands next to  an F9F Panther with the silhouettes of … Continue reading

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Against All Odds – Killing MiGs in the Korean War with Naval Aviator Royce Williams (Part 1 of 2)

Testimony of Pilot #32 On Nov. 18, 1952, Royce Williams became the top-scoring carrier-based naval aviator and the top-scoring naval aviator in a Navy jet of the Korean War. A signed print by prominent military aviation artist Stan Stokes displayed … Continue reading

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Of tin gods and STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Testimony of Pilot #27 There are much safer and more bountiful ways to proceed successfully through life than jumping into a “tin” fast mover, looking  for fun and adventure playing with the clouds or screaming down some riverbed at 100 … Continue reading

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A Gift of Wings – Forever Young

Testimony of Pilot# 23 Be courageous and be brave And in my heart you’ll always stay Forever Young, Forever Young, Forever Young  Rod Stewart Throughout our lives we receive multiple gifts, many simply because we are loved. But for aviators, … Continue reading

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Testimony of Pilot: Pilgrimage of Honor

Testimony of Pilot# 20 On the evening of 10 January 1973 , VA-115 “A-rabs” aircrew Lt. Mike “Mondo” McCormick and Ltjg. Alan “Arlo” Clark, were catapulted from the  USS Midway, flying  “Arab 511.” They were on a single plane low … Continue reading

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Testimony of Pilot (8) Neil Armstrong – Research Pilot

Testimony of Pilot# 8 I thought the attractions of being an astronaut were actually, not so much the Moon, but flying in a completely new medium. The pictures above do not represent the common perspective  of Neil Armstrong the astronaut … Continue reading

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