Enlisted members should remember the Sergeant Pilots

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Christian Carawan
  • 88th Diagnostic and Therapeutics Squadron
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Enlisted members at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will have a rare opportunity to meet some true aviation pioneers, Oct. 26, when the base hosts a "Muster Luncheon" honoring the Army Air Corps Enlisted Pilots Association.

The event at the Wright-Patterson Club is part of the ongoing 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force.

Let me tell you why every enlisted member should consider signing up to attend this historic event, to meet with this group, affectionately called the "Sergeant Pilots."

First, this group may be one of the final large gatherings for many of these enlisted aviators. The enlisted pilot program ended with the class 42-J, as in 1942. This was before the Air Force was born, making the enlisted pilot a very important part of our service's enlisted legacy.

Second the enlisted pilots made history while in the military and even after they left the service. These enlisted pilots produced 17 Aces, eleven of them made it to general officer rank, and 155 of them paid the ultimate price for our country.

How do you become part of a legacy?

Their legacy was carried on their wings and many accomplishments thereafter.

Carroll Shelby left the Air Force and flying to become a world-class race car driver and designer. He designed the "Shelby Mustang" beginning the muscle car era. Produced from 1965 to 1970, and again in 2007 the "Shelby Cobra Mustang" owes it success and name to this former enlisted pilot.

"Three Men on a Flying Trapeze" aerobatics team which predated today's Air Force "Thunderbirds" air demonstration squadron was created by Maj. Gen. Clair Chennault. This team had three sergeant pilots: William McDonald, John Williamson and Ray Clifton.

Ira Biffle, a World War I enlisted pilot taught Charles Lindbergh to fly. Later Master Sgt. Bill Winston helped perfect Lindbergh's skills, which the intrepid pilot would later use in his famous solo trip across the Atlantic Ocean.

Lee Arbon wrote the book "They Also Flew," to let readers know of the enlisted pilots contributions to aviation.

Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, a World War II Ace with a total 270 hours on 64 combat missions. A legendary test pilot, he completed the new test pilot school at Wright Field. He was the first pilot to break the sound barrier when he flew the rocket powered Bell X-1 to the top speed of Mach 1.06.

Brig. Gen. Edward Wenglar who served overseas during World War II, achieved the highest rank of any former enlisted pilot and is president of the Army Air Corps Enlisted Pilots Association.

Seating for the Muster Luncheon is limited. I challenge every enlisted member to secure a ticket for this historical event the first chance you get so you can sit in as these aviation greats share their incredible stories. For more information, see your First Sergeant!