Recipients

Zachary Rhyner

In 2002 Technical Sergeant John Chapman became the first U.S. Air Force Combat Controller to receive the Air Force Cross in any war in history.…
Urban Drew

Urban Drew became a P-51 ACE in World War II, credited with six victories. For the mission in which he became the first pilot to…
Edwin Atterberry

Edwin Atterberry enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1952, before subsequently entering service in the U.S. Air Force Aviation Cadet Program. He was shot…
Nicholas Donelson

Nicholas Donelson entered the U.S. Air Force as an enlisted Radar Specialist for four years before entering the Aviation Cadet Program to earn his Commission…
Philip Conran

Phil Conran served in the Connecticut Air National Guard before receiving his ROTC commission at Fordham University, New York. Serving with the 55th Air Rescue…
James McInerney

James McInerney graduated from the Georgia Military Academy in 1947 and served a year in the Army Parachute Infantry before entering the U.S. Military Academy…
Charles McGrath

Two F-4 crews were recovered on this date, one earlier in the day by another ARRS helicopter. Sergeant McGrath’s “Jolly Green 73” recovered the other,…
Roy Knight

Roy Knight’s brother was Jack L. Knight, who was Killed in Action and earned the Medal of Honor in World War II. Another brother, Curtis…
Thomas Kirk

Thomas Kirk received his commission through the Air Force ROTC program at Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated in 1950. He was a veteran of…
John Rowan
Robert Ronca

Robert Ronca flew F-86 fighters during the Korean War and was credited with one aerial victory. He was listed as Missing in Action during the…
William Robinson

Major Peter Tsouprake, the Electronics Warfare Officer in Major Robinson’s F-105, received the Air Force Cross in the same mission for which William Robinson received…