C-17 Globemaster III

DAYTON, Ohio --The C-17 Globemaster III makes it's final flight on the morning of Wednesday the 25th of April to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The Globemaster III has been a test aircraft and a Hollywood Star. The aircraft appeared in country superstar, Toby Keith's Emmy Award winning production of "American Soldier". It has also appeared in five motion pictures: "Transformers", "Iron Man", "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", "Iron Man", "Iron Man 2" and "Superman: Man of Steel." (U.S. Air Force Photo by Michelle Gigante)

C-17 Globemaster III

DAYTON, Ohio --The C-17 Globemaster III makes it's final flight on the morning of Wednesday the 25th of April to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The Globemaster III has been a test aircraft and a Hollywood Star. The aircraft appeared in country superstar, Toby Keith's Emmy Award winning production of "American Soldier". It has also appeared in five motion pictures: "Transformers", "Iron Man", "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", "Iron Man", "Iron Man 2" and "Superman: Man of Steel." (U.S. Air Force Photo by Michelle Gigante)

Doolittle Tokyo Raiders

DAYTON, Ohio --The National Museum of the United States Air Force hosts a reunion on 17 April 2011 for the brave men, who took off from an aircraft carrier for a top secret mission to bomb Japan. Achieving the unimaginable on 18 April 1942, these men, led by Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, came to be known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. The public had the opportunity to celebrate the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders as the World War II aviation heroes commemorated the 70th anniversary of the raid on Japan at a memorial service on 18 April 2012. The 20 vintage B-25 bombers were scheduled to take-off and perform a fly-by during the ceremony. Four of the five surviving Raiders watched the fly over at the NMUSAF. From left to right are: Maj. Thomas C. Griffin, Navigator on No. 9, Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher, Engineer-Gunner of No. 7, Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, Co-pilot of No. 1 and Lt. Col. Edward J. Saylor, Engineer-Gunner of No. 15. Lt. Col. Robert L. Hite, co-pilot of No. 16, was not attending the reunion due to health reasons. The gentleman on the far right is C.V. Glines, Curator of the Doolittle library. (Air Force photo by Ben Strasser)

Doolittle Tokyo Raiders

DAYTON, Ohio --The National Museum of the United States Air Force hosts a reunion on 17 April 2011 for the brave men, who took off from an aircraft carrier on a top secret mission to bomb Japan. Achieving the unimaginable on 18 April 1942, these men, led by Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, came to be known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. The World War II aviation heroes commemorated the 70th anniversary of the raid on Japan during their reunion, April 17-20, 2012. 21 vintage B-25s flew into the air strip at the NMUSAF during the celebration. Four of the five living Doolittle Raiders were able to travel for the reunion event: Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole Co-pilot of No. 1 Maj. Thomas C. Griffin Navigator on No. 9 Lt. Col. Edward J. Saylor Engineer-Gunner of No. 15 Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher Engineer-Gunner of No. 7 Lt. Col. Robert L. Hite, co-pilot of No. 16, was unable to attend the reunion due to health reasons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ben Strasser)

68th Reunion of Doolittle Raiders

Doolittle Raiders drew thousands of visitors to their autograph sessions at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio on April 18, 2010. To ensure people were easily able to meet all the Raiders, groups (standing at tables) were brought in one a time to give people an easier time to meet all the Raiders. The main body of fans was waiting out of sight in lines that extended through corridors and down adjacent galleries the size of this Modern Era hanger. People waited in an orderly line for hours with books, posters, photos, and model airplanes that they asked the Doolittle Raiders to sign. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Mass B-25 Arrival

Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, Michael Donley speaks about the Doolittle Raiders during their 68th reunion held at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, April 17th, 2010. Secretary Donley is standing in front of B-25A "Miss Hap." It is one of 17 B-25s that have gathered for display and a formation fly-over the next day. "Miss Hap "is the fourth B-25 off the production line and was used as the transport plane for Col. James Doolittle's travel between Florida and Washington.D.C. during the planing and training phase of the historic raid on Tokyo. Later, it became the transport plane for General Hap Arnold. The aircraft is owned by Jeff Clyman / American Airpower Museum, Long Island, N.Y. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

68th Doolittle Raiders Reunion

Vintage B-25 Mitchell bombers fly over the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, during a memorial flight honoring the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders on April 18, 2010. The 68th Doolittle Raiders' reunion commemorates the anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid. On April 18, 1942, U.S. Army Air Forces Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle's squad of 16 B-25 Mitchell aircraft bombed targets in Japan responding to the attack on Pearl Harbor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey)

68th Doolittle Raiders Reunion

A vintage B-25 Mitchell bomber flies near the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, during a memorial flight honoring the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders on April 18, 2010. The 68th Doolittle Raiders' reunion commemorates the anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid. On April 18, 1942, U.S. Army Air Forces Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle's squad of 16 B-25 Mitchell aircraft bombed Japanese targets in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey)

68th Doolittle Raiders Reunion

Vintage B-25 Mitchell bombers stand ready to start engines and take off from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. They will join a 17-ship formation to take part in a memorial flight honoring the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders on April 18, 2010. The 68th Doolittle Raiders' reunion commemorates the anniversary of the raid on April 18, 1942, by U.S. Army Air Forces Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle's squadron of 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers. The raid onTokyo was in response to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey)

Doolittle Raiders 68th reunion

James Doolittle's goblet (upper left) and the goblets of other Doolittle Raiders who have passed are displayed at the Goblet Ceremony in Fairborn, Ohio, April 16, 2010. The ceremony honors all who participated in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo during World War II. The downturned goblets represent aircrew members who have not survived. During the ceremony the name of every person is read and an attending Doolittle Raider responds to indicate the spirit of those who have passed are present. The set of goblets is now maintained by the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Doolittle Raiders 68th reunion

C.V. Glines (far left), Doolittle Raiders historian and author, moderates a question and answer session between news media and Doolittle Raiders April 16, 2010, at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Answering questions were (left to right) Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, Lt. Col. Robert L. Hite, Maj. Thomas Griffin and Master Sgt. David J. Thatcher. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

68th Doolittle Raiders Reunion

Thousands of visitors attend the Doolittle Raiders' 68th reunion at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, April 16, 2010. The event commemorates the anniversary of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. Visitors waiting for autographs arrived hours early and formed lines that wound through multiple galleries and corridors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey)

First Flight

Orville Wright at the controls of the 1903 Wright Flyer during the first successful powered flight Dec. 17, 1903 at Kittyhawk, N.C., while Wilbur Wright looks on. The first flight at 10:35 a.m. was 120 feet and lasted 12 seconds. The 106th anniversary of the event will be celebrated Dec. 17, 2009 at the Wright Brothers Memorial, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Today, visitors to Wright-Patt and the Dayton region can learn about the Wright Brothers at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. (Library of Congress)

Museum opens exhibit dedicated to 'Warrior Airmen'

Retired Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf officially opens the Warrior Airmen Exhibit Jan. 12 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. General Metcalf is the director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)

Museum opens exhibit dedicated to 'Warrior Airmen'

Honor guard members from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base post the colors for the opening of the Warrior Airmen Exhibit Jan. 12 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)

Museum opens exhibit dedicated to 'Warrior Airmen'

Senior Airman Harry Bromley reads about the members of his unit who gave their lives during the war on terrorism at the opening of the Warrior Airmen Exhibit Jan. 12 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Airman Bromley is a pararescuman from the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)

Museum opens exhibit dedicated to 'Warrior Airmen'

Master Sgt. Keary Miller shows his son, Ian, equipment used by special operations Airmen during the war on terrorism at the opening of the Warrior Airman Exhibit Jan. 12 at the Nation Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Sergeant Miller, a pararescuman honored in the Warrior Airmen Exhibit , fought during the Battle of Takur Ghar, the deadliest entanglement of Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)

Museum opens exhibit dedicated to 'Warrior Airmen'

A detailed mannequin emulates Master Sgt. Keary Miller, a pararescuman who fought during the Battle of Takur Ghar the deadliest entanglement of Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, which is on display at the Warrior Airmen Exhibit at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)

Oldest USAF aircraft retires

The U.S. Air Force C-131 known as the Total-In-Flight Simulator, made its final flight to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio Nov. 7. The unusual aircraft flew 2500 research flights and contributed to the advancement of many of the flight technologies integral to today’s fleet. Prior to its retirement, the TIFS, a 1955 Convair, was the oldest operating aircraft in the Air Force inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ben Strasser)

Oldest USAF aircraft retires

The crew of the Convair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS), a very unique aircraft created to perform research for the U.S. Air Force, signed a panel following its last mission to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on Nov. 7, 2008. The aircraft will become part of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force collection. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ben Strasser)

Oldest USAF aircraft retires

The crew for the final flight of the U.S. Air Force C-131 known as the Total-In-Flight Simulator, pose near a restoration hangar at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio Nov. 7. The unusual aircraft flew 2500 research flights and contributed to the advancement of many of the flight technologies integral to today’s fleet. Prior to its retirement, the TIFS, a 1955 Convair, was the oldest operating aircraft in the Air Force inventory. The aircraft will join the National Museum of the United States Air Force collection. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ben Strasser)

Oldest USAF aircraft retires

The U.S. Air Force C-131 known as the Total-In-Flight Simulator, made its final flight to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio Nov. 7. The unusual aircraft flew 2500 research flights and contributed to the advancement of many of the flight technologies integral to today’s fleet. Prior to its retirement, the TIFS, a 1955 Convair, was the oldest operating aircraft in the Air Force inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ben Strasser)

Convair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS)

DAYTON, Ohio - The crew of the Convair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS), a very unique aircraft created to perform research for the U.S. Air Force, stands in front of the aircraft just after landing at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Nov. 7, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo)

NASIC Change of Command

DAYTON, Ohio -- Major General Craig Koziol hands the unit guidon to Colonel D. Scott George during the National Air and Space Intelligence Center's change of command ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on June 17. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt Joshua Strang)