Raymond A. “Cheval” Lallemant, one of Belgiums leading World War II Aces, pioneered allied “tank-busting” tactics flying the Hawker Typhoon. He was born in 1917 in Blicquy, Belgium. On 10 May 1940, while he was a student in pilot training at...
Michael I. “Mike” Lampe was born in Bremerton, Washington, on 29 August 1949 and graduated from Kitsap High School in 1968. He completed Air Force basic military training in July 1969 and administrative specialist technical school in October 1969. Upon...
With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War on 18 July 1936, a politically conscious and strife-torn Europe was polarized in a struggle between Left and Right. This bitterly fought struggle soon drew participants from Russia, Germany, and Italy and provided these...
Lt Col Kelly Latimer was born at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, in 1964. From the time she was a toddler she dreamed of becoming an astronaut. She entered the United States Air Force Academy and graduated in 1987 with Honors in Astronautical Engineering....
William R. Lawley earned America’s highest decoration at the controls of the legendary B-17 Flying Fortress over occupied Europe. Born in Leeds, Alabama, he began his Air Force career as a private and quickly became an Aviation Cadet. Upon graduating from flying...
Jerry L. Leatherman planned and then flew some of the most spectacular missions of the Gulf War. A 1978 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, he was first assigned to Reese AFB, Texas, for Undergraduate Pilot Training. He received his silver wings in 1979...
History celebrates firsts, and Major General Jeannie M. Leavitt has achieved many historical firsts as the United States Air Force’s (USAF) first female fighter pilot, first female fighter aircraft weapons officer, first female fighter wing commander, and the first...
Bomber pilot and combat leader extraordinaire, Eugene B. “Ben” LeBailly earned the title of “Loco Ace” for destroying nine enemy locomotives in North Korea. Born in Shoshone, Idaho, he earned his commission and pilot wings in 1939 and was...
General Curtis E. LeMay was one of America’s greatest military commanders. Born in Columbus, Ohio, on 15 November 1906, LeMay was commissioned a second lieutenant when he completed flight training at Kelly Field, Texas, in October 1928. Assigned to pursuit...
Lou Lenart led the first fighter mission of one of the world’s most respected and successful air forces! Lenart was born in Hungary in 1921 and, at age 10, he immigrated with his immediate family to the United States. As a youth, he watched the rising tide of...
Anthony W. “Tony” LeVier is one of aviation’s greatest test pilots. Few can equal his active role in the advancement of aviation during a flying career that spans over 50 years. He began flying in 1928, at 15, and by 1932 had his commercial license....
What would you give for freedom? Squadron Leader M. A. “Tony” Liskutin has shown time and again that, for him, freedom is indeed precious. A native of Czechoslovakia, Liskutin was determined to fight the Germans, who, in March 1939, controlled his country....
As a Weapon Systems Officer in the F-4D, Roger Locher shot down three MiG-21s in Vietnam and went on to become involved in one of the greatest evasion epics of the war. He entered the Air Force in 1969 through ROTC and completed navigator training. Assigned to the F-4...
Colonel Loisel was a true American Hero. With over 300 missions in World War II’s Pacific Theater, Colonel Loisel spent more than 3 consecutive years in combat–longer than any other US pilot. Born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and raised in Norfolk,...
Many considered flying a “man’s job” but women such as Barbara Erickson London had the skills and dedication that gave our country the boost it needed to win World War II in the air. Raised in the Pacific Northwest, London entered the Civilian Pilot...
An American ace in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II, Donald S. Lopez joined the Aviation Cadet Program in May 1942 and received his wings a year later at Craig Field, Alabama. Transitioning to the P-40N Warhawk, he received orders to the 75th Fighter...
Fritz Losigkeit was a World War II German fighter pilot with 68 aerial victories. He joined the Prussian State Police Academy and was eventually selected for flight training. After graduation, he was assigned to JG (Fighter Wing) 132, the famous Richtofen Wing. In...
Lt Col (Ret) Tim “Rhino” Bennett was selected as an Eagle for his outstanding contributions to airpower. He flew F-15Es on active duty in the United States Air Force and flew F-16s in the South Carolina Air National Guard. He is a Desert Storm veteran and...
Lt Gen (Ret) David Deptula was selected as an Eagle for his significant contributions to air and space power. He was instrumental in the planning and execution of Desert Storm operations using effects- based planning, and masterminded “Global Reach, Global Power,” the...
In 1944, Captain Diether Lukesch test flew and helped develop the Arado Ar 234, the world’s first jet bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. In that same year, he made history’s first jet bomber attacks, in an attempt to stop the Allies’ advance in...
