Retired Chief Master Sgt. Francis Collier

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Francis Collier receives a commemorative graphic and challenge coin from Chief Master Sgt. Corliss Johnson, the vice president of the National Capital Region Chiefs Group, while his wife, Lillian, looks on during a ceremony Oct. 29, 2011, at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va. Collier was one of 625 Airmen promoted to the new grade chief master sergeant as a result of the Career Compensation Act of 1958. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Tiffany Trojca)

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Francis Collier

Chief Master Sgt. Francis Collier (left) receives a handshake from Lt. Gen. Robert W. Burns, the 5th Air Force commander, upon his promotion to the “new grade” of chief master sergeant Dec. 1, 1959. Collier was one of 625 Airmen promoted to the new super grade of chief master sergeant as a result of the Career Compensation Act of 1958. (Courtesy photo)

Heritage flight

A P-51 Mustang performs aerial maneuvers for a crowd May 1 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The P-51 later flew in formation with an F-15 Eagle as part of a Heritage Flight. The P-51 was assigned to the Eglin AFB 33rd Fighter Wing from 1948 through 1950, and was a workhorse during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

James H. Douglas Jr.

James H. Douglas Jr. was the fifth Air Force secretary and served from May 1, 1957 to Dec. 10, 1959. (U.S. Air Force photo)

50th anniversary of significant Air Force mission remembered

Cindy Miller (left), daughter of Col. Ray Schrecengost, the pilot of the RF-101C "CIN MIN," and retired Lt. Col. Robert Burkhart, a pilot during Operation Sun Run, stand near the RF-101C "CIN MIN" in the Modern Flight Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 27. (U.S. Air Force photo)

F-86 Sabre in Korea

Ground crews prepare an F-86 Sabre with its 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing "Checkertail" for flight during the Korean War. (Courtesy photo)