Contents - Airlift/Tanker Association

Sgt John L. Levitow (1945-2000)He received the Medal of Honor for his selflessheroism on the night of 24 February 1969 whileserving as loadmaster on an AC-47 gunship overLong Binh, South Vietnam. An enemy 82-mmmortar shell landed on top of the gunship’sright wing. Exploding inside the wing frame, theblast raked the fuselage with shrapnel severelywounding him and three other crew membersin the rear of the aircraft. Weak from loss ofblood and with only partial use of his legs, hepulled an unconscious crew member away fromthe open cargo door and then grabbed a loose,burning flare and threw it overboard secondsbefore it exploded. Inducted 1998.Col Gail S. Halvorsen (1920)During the Berlin Airlift, also called OperationVittles, he instituted Operation Little Vittles bydropping small parachutes laden with candy fromhis C-54 aircraft to the children of Berlin. Whilemotivating Berliners to never give up hope, hisself-initiated act of kindness - which earned himthe nickname “Candy Bomber” -- also becamea symbol of U.S. resolve during the Cold War.Receiving in 1949 the prestigious Cheney Awardfor his actions during the Berlin Airlift, he hascontinued to serve as a national ambassadorof goodwill. For airlifters he epitomizes theirhumanitarian spirit and continues to inspire usall to serve others. Inducted 1999.MajGen Winston P. “Wimpy” Wilson (1911-1996)He rose from an aircraft mechanic in theArkansas National Guard in 1929 to lead the AirNational Guard (ANG) from 1953 to 1963 andthe National Guard Bureau from 1963 to 1971.By insisting on realistic training for the ANG,according to active duty Air Force standards,and equipping it with modern-day transports,tankers, and fighters, he transformed the AirGuard from a flying club into a prized, combatreadycomponent of the Air Force. His initiativesled directly to the Defense Department’s TotalForce policy. Inducted 2000.MSgt Roy W. Hooe (1892-1973)An aviation pioneer of huge historical stature,he served as aircraft mechanic for Billy Mitchellduring aerial gunnery and bombing tests in1921; Charles Lindbergh for the “Spirit ofSaint Louis” goodwill mission to Mexico Cityin 1927; and Carl Spaatz and Ira Eaker on the“Question Mark” record-setting enduranceflight in 1929, for which he was awarded theDistinguished Service Cross. During his 3-yearaviation career, he also served as crew chieffor other aviation heroes, including LesterMaitland, Albert Hagenberger, and AmeliaEarhart. Inducted 2001.Gen Carl A. “Tooey” Spaatz (1891-1974)World War I fighter pilot, World War IICommander of Air Forces in Europe andthe Pacific, first Chief of Staff of the U.S. AirForce in 1947, and air refueling pioneer, hecommanded the “Question Mark” - a U.S.Army C-2A Fokker transport aircraft - in itsrecord-setting endurance flight of 150 hours,40 minutes in January 1929. This missionproved that aerial refueling was safe andpractical and earned him the DistinguishedFlying Cross. The flight also helped provethat airpower was no longer a barnstormingsideshow but a serious component of nationaldefense. Inducted 2002.John F. Shea (1919-1996)Serving as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff forPlans, Headquarters Military Airlift Command(1960-1983), he helped conceive, develop,and bring to fruition numerous airliftenhancement and modernization programsincluding the C-5 wing modification, the C-141 stretch, and the addition of emergencycargo conversion features to wide-bodiedcommercial passenger aircraft in the CivilReserve Air Fleet, additionally, his vision andexpertise in air mobility helped shape theNational Airlift Expansion Act, which providedthe legislative foundations for joint - militaryand commercial - aircraft development.Inducted 2003.“The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well,and doing well whatever you do without thought of fame. If it comes atall it will come because it is deserved, not because it is sought after.”–Henry Wasdworth Longfellow26 A/TQ • Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Fall 2010