10 Legendary Heroes of the US Air Force
We Are The Mighty | By Blake Stilwell
At 72, the Air Force may be technically the youngest branch of the five services, just a fraction of the Army's age, but the service's roots are well over a hundred years old. Here are 10 men who became legends in that time:
1. Eddie Rickenbacker
A race car driver turned self-taught pilot, Rickenbacker joined the military immediately after the United States entered World War I. In less than a year, he earned a promotion to an officer's rank and shot down his fifth enemy aircraft, earning him the title of "Ace." A year later, he was in command of his entire Aero Squadron.
By the time of the November 11, 1918 armistice, Rickenbacker racked up 26 aerial victories, a record he held until World War II. His tactic was to charge right at enemy flying squads, whatever the odds, winning every time. Rickenbacker was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with six oak leaf clusters, the Croix de Guerre with two palms, the French Legion d'Honneur, and was later awarded the Medal of Honor.
https://www.military.com/off-duty/2019/09/06/10-legendary-heroes-us-air-force.html
