394th Bombardment Squadron

Airmen from the 394th Bombardment Squadron gather for a group photo during World War II at an unknown location. The 394th BS was the training unit for all incoming B-17 Flying Fortress crews and was stationed throughout the Pacific theater. (Courtesy photo)

"Eight Ball Esquire"

Airmen from the 13th Bombardment Squadron stand in front of the B-25D Mitchell "Eight Ball Esquire" in 1942. On Dec. 20, 1942 after leaving Port Moresby, New Guinea, the aircraft lost its left engine and ditched into the bay. The crew made it to the beach. Two of them walked and swam to Cooktown, Australia, and notified authorities about the rest of the crew. They were rescued two days after the crash by boat with no losses. In December 2006, divers discovered wreckage, but verification that the aircraft is the "Eight Ball Esquire" is still pending. (Courtesy photo)

Lt. George A. Whiteman

Lt. George A. Whiteman sits in the cockpit of his training school aircraft. The photo is taken from a postcard Lt. Whiteman sent his sister upon graduation in 1940. The words "Lucky, Lucky Me" were his description of how he felt at the moment. (Courtesy photo)

Oscar-01 Launch Control Facility

(Left to right) Senior Airmen David Wade and Eugene Clark and Staff Sgt. Kevin Gorney, missile maintenance crewmen, perform an electrical check on an LGM-30F Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in its silo Jan. 1, 1980. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Bob Wickley)

Oscar-01 launch control facility

The missile trailer located in the compound of the Oscar -01 launch control facility at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The base is the home to the only intercontinental ballistic missile launch control facility located on a military base. From 1963 to 1995, the 351st Strategic Missile Wing was assigned to Whiteman and operated the Minuteman II ICBM weapon system. (Courtesy photo)

509th Bomb Wing shield

509th Bomb Wing shield (U.S. Air Force illustration)