Retired Gen. Bennie L. Davis

Retired Gen. Bennie L. Davis passed away Sept. 23, 2012, in Georgetown, Texas. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

retired Col. Clarence Anderson

Retired Col. Clarence Anderson recalls various memories of flying during World War II during the Air Force Association Air and Space Conference and Technical Exposition on Sept. 17, 2012, in Washington. Anderson's anecdote was just one of many shared on the panel as the former fighter pilots spoke about the issues they faced as part of the Army Air Corps during that era. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Aaron Stout)

Phantom in the water

The head piece to an F-4 Phantom II fuel tank recovered by the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Crash Recovery Unit and the Anchorage Port Authority from the Port of Anchorage, Alaska, Sept. 18, 2012. The Anchorage Port Authority and the Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson Crash Recovery Unit, under the 3rd Maintenance Squadron, are removing an F-4 fuel tank that is embedded in the harbor bank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Omari Bernard)

Phantom in the water

A piece of an F-4 Phantom II fuel tank lies on the ground of the Port of Anchorage, Alaska, Sept. 18, 2012. The Anchorage Port Authority and the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Crash Recovery Unit, under the 3rd Maintenance Squadron, are removing an F-4 fuel tank that is embedded in the harbor bank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Omari Bernard)

Phantom in the water

Airmen from the Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson Crash Recovery Unit dig out an entrenched F-4 Phantom II fuel tank from the Port of Anchorage, Alaska, Sept. 18, 2012. F-4s were flown at Elmendorf Air Force Base through 1982. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Omari Bernard)

Phantom in the water

Tech. Sgt. Richard Hittie uses a high-pressure hose to clear the silt that has built up inside a jettisoned F-4 Phantom II fuel tank at the Port of Anchorage, Alaska, Sept. 18, 2012. Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson and the Port of Anchorage worked together to safely remove the external fuel tank, which was discovered earlier by Port personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Omari Bernard)