Heroes in Our Back Yard
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown Community
Forum Name: People in Middletown
Forum Description: Discuss People in Middletown
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3998
Printed Date: May 04 2024 at 1:42am
Topic: Heroes in Our Back Yard
Posted By: Voice_of_Reason
Subject: Heroes in Our Back Yard
Date Posted: Jul 20 2011 at 9:05am
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By Rose Morgan Locals were among the glitter and warmth of an evening celebration to enroll four men honored by being named into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton Ohio. This year of the 50th annual ceremony was particularly special to admit Iven C. Kincheloe, Charles E. McGee, S. Harry Robertson and Thomas D. White to the ranks of men and women honored. The hundreds of people attending the black tie dinner at the Dayton Convention Center included Neil Armstrong, Amanda Wright Lane, Col. Thomas Moe, Frank Borman, Gen. Richard Cody, and Sec. of the U.S. Air Force, Michael B. Donley. These awards are for past heroic efforts and great contributions to the history of aviation. As the biographies were read by the presenters, these men may not have been in the limelight but were outstanding by virtue of the wonderful donations they have made over their years of service. Col. Charles E. McGee, USAF (Ret) was the only honoree able to accept the award on his own behalf. The acceptance speech given by this 91 year old man gave great credit to the men under his command. His 409 aerial combat flights in three wars is a record that tells us he was in the air with the men in his command. He was a fine leader who gained their loyalty, respect and admiration. We had the particular pleasure of sitting with Betty Tach Blake an Arizona resident. Mrs. Blake was in the first class of WASPs in 1943. These Wasp pilots ferried the airplanes from coast to coast as they were manufactured. What that statement does not tell you is that these women were also the test pilots of each plane as they were inspected but not flown before they were transferred to their final destination in active war service.     
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