The U.S. Congress honored the 1,447 U.S. pilots designated as American Fighter Aces, an exclusive military club composed of members who shot down at least five hostile aircraft in direct combat, with the Congressional Gold Medal on May 20 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Air Force Lieutenant General Charles "Chick" Cleveland, American Fighter Aces Association president, accepted for himself and on behalf of the other 76 surviving pilots the Congressional Gold Medal, the country's highest civilian award the Congress can bestow. The U.S. Congress could only present the medal to those individuals "who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American culture and history that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field long after the achievement."
The 87-year-old Cleveland flew 145 war missions in Vietnam and Korea, shooting down at least five aircraft during a career in which he registered more than 4,500 flying hours, earning the Ace Pilots title reserved for the veterans who fought in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam and Korean wars.
"If there's an elite among fighter pilots, it's these men," Cleveland addressed an audience of around 500 people, during a ceremony at the Emancipation Hall on Capitol Hill in Washington, comprised of some three dozen pilots belonging to a rare breed of fighters.
Congressman Denny Heck, representative of 10th District Washington, was the original co-sponsor of the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act, which has honored the pilots with the medal.
Six ace pilots were living in Washington when Congress adopted Heck's bill, five were veterans from World War II and another a pilot fighter from the Vietnam War.
The World War II set includes Navy Commander Clarence Borley, Captain Clayton Kelly Gross, Captain Joe McGraw, Lieutenant Mike Wolf, and Colonel Arthur Jeffrey. Jeffrey, who took out 14 German aircraft, passed away in April.
Meanwhile, retired Air Force Brigadier General Steve Ritchie is the youngest of the American Fighter Aces at 72 years old. Ritchie flew in an F-4 Phantom jet and battled North Vietnamese pilots flying MiG-21 jets. He shot five of his enemies in 1972. Ritchie was the last pilot fighter to be part of the group, while the oldest member is 104 years old, according to the American Fighter Aces Association.
House Speaker John Boehner stated the brave missions flown by the Fighter Aces "changed the course of American-fought wars throughout modern history. These Fighter Aces risked it all to defend freedom and democracy around the world."
