Adolf "Dolfo" Galland was one of Germany's most respected fighter pilots during World Was II, and achieved the regard and friendship of many of the Allied pilots against whom he fought after the war ended. He was one of only 28 recipients of the Knight's Cross with Diamonds, the highest military award in Nazi Germany.

Galland was born in Westphalia in March 1912, the second of four boys. Two of his brothers also became fighter pilots and were subsequently killed during the war; Adolf however had a brilliant military career and by the end of the war he was credited with 103 victories from 705 missions, all of these being achieved against Western Allies. He had the dubious distinction of being shot down twice in one day, June 21st 1941, and rose to the position of General der Jagdflieger, commander of Germany's fighter force.

As the war progressed he often came into conflict with Nazi High Command who resented his outspoken views. At one point he was relieved of his position and threatened with arrest, but after intervention from Hitler he was subsequently appointed to lead a new squadron, working up the Me262 jet fighter. As Germany collapsed, Galland continued to fight, finally surrendering to American forces while in hospital in May 1945.

After the war Galland spent some time working with the Argentinian Air Force on the introduction of jets. He then returned to Germany in 1955 and lived there until his death in February 1996. Post-war, he became a successful aviation businessman and wrote a highly successful autobiography entitled "The First and the Last".

His full name is Horatio Herbert Kitchener. He was born in Ireland in the year 1850. At age 18 he attended the Royal Military Academy where he received his training before spending a brief period of his life with the French army in 1870. Shortly after, in 1871, he received a commission into the Royal Engineers. In 1883 he was affiliated with the Egyptian army which was at the time being restructured by the British army. In 1892 he was appointed commander of the Egyptian army where he began to coordinate the restructuring of the Sudan army. A few years later in 1898 he headed a French attempt to take control of a portion of Sudan an eventually was appointed to be Sudan’s governor.

In the British army he held the rank of major-general and headed the Anglo-Egyptian army to victory at the Battle of Omdurman which occurred on September 2, 1898. A massive rail construction program that he had implemented in the area is what made this victory possible. He is solely responsible for preventing a war between France and Britain for dealing in a firm but non-violent manner with the French military expedition to claim Fashoda, which is commonly referred to as the “Fashoda Incident”.

By 1900 he was anointed to chief of staff to lord Roberts during the Boer War. During this time, Kitchener rearranged transport and led an unsuccessful attack on Paardeberg. During the years 1911 through 1914 he served as Consul General to Egypt where he was made an earl. Soon after the 1st World War had begun he returned to England and was granted the title of secretary of state for war. In 1916, while on a Russian mission, Kitchener was aboard the ship H.M.S. Hampshire when it struck a German mine and sank. Horatio drowned on June 5, 1916.

Willy Emil Messerschmitt was born in 1898 in Frankfurt, Germany. He is best known for his contributions to aviation, especially fighter planes in the Luftwaffe during the 1930s and 1940s. He had a number of planes named after him; the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Me 102 were only two examples.

Messerschmitt’s interest in flight began as a youth. The dirigibles that brought so much attention to the German population especially fascinated him. His first model gliders were powered by rubber bands. As a teen he attended a school for those interested in science or technology. There he met Friedrich Harth another glider enthusiast; the two became fast friends. Harth went into the service in 1914, World War I. Messerschmitt joined him at military flight training school near Munich. The two friends built a glider that broke a world record for flight duration in 1921. After that, the friends won several competitive glider flights and won enough money to help provide funds for their fledgling business.

Messerschmitt and Harth opened their own flight school in 1922. They continued building their model sailplanes. This partnership did not go smoothly so Harth left in 1923. After this dissolution of the partnership, Messerschmitt opened an aircraft-manufacturing firm. He moved from gliders to motorized aircraft. He was credited with having designed the first in its class. The plane reached a speed of 93 miles per hour.

He was not even 30 when he was manufacturing airplanes. Some of his planes crashed during test flights creating important enemies. The Luft Hansa had ordered 3 planes. After the crashes of the first two tests, the Luft Hansa cancelled their order and demanded their deposit back. Messerschmitt’s company went bankrupt in 1931.
Because of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was restricted from having an air force after World War I. Of course Adolf Hitler completely ignored the restrictions placed on Germany and in 1933 resumed the military services and rebuilt the air force. The resurrection of the air force was quite a boon for Messerschmitt. His prototypes became the basis for the new military aviation.

General Erich Ludendorff was born near Posen in 1865. The General died in 1937; however the whereabouts to which he died have not been made known. General Ludendorff served with the 57th Infantry Regiment as a Second Lieutenant in 1885. He later switched and served with the 2nd Marine Battalion as well as with the 8th Grenadier Guards.

In 1893 the General attended the War Academy and later joined the German Army and was on the General Staff; by 1911 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. The now Colonel Ludendorff worked with General Alfred Von Schlieffen, and what they worked on later became known as the Schlieffen Plan. The Colonel persuaded the Reichstag to increase military spending and adopt a more aggressive foreign policy. This inadvertently upset the Social Democratic Party, and got the Colonel taken off the General Staff and placed back into regimental duties.

The Colonel was then given command of the 39th Fusiliers at Dusseldorf. When World War I started, the Colonel was appointed to Chief of Staff in East Prussia, where he worked with Paul von Hindenburg, commander of the German Eighth Army. In working with Hindenburg he won important victories over the Russians at Tannenberg in 1914, and at Masaurian Lakes in 1915. The Colonel ran for the Presidency in 1925, losing to his former commander, Paul von Hindenburg.

After 1928, the Colonel went into retirement, having had a falling out with the Nazi Party. In his later years, many people believed the Colonel to be a little more than eccentric; the Colonel turned down Hitler's offer to make him field marshal in 1935. At the time of his death in 1937, he was given a state funeral that was attended by Hitler himself.

The name may be a mouthful, but this military hero has a longer list of accomplishments than names. Mountbatten was the first Earl Mountbatten of Burma; he was a British Admiral, statesman and uncle to Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. The list goes on, as he was the father of Prince Louis of Battenberg, the last Viceroy and the first Governor-General of an independent India, not to mention the first Sea Lord.

It was obvious from birth that he was destined for greatness as he was born under the title of "His Serene Highness Prince Louis of Battenberg." By 1917 his German titles and styles were dropped, but not the air in which he carried himself. His ancestry is 100% royalty and military, although anti-German sentiment caused his father, Prince Louis of Battenberg, to resign his position at the onset of WWI. The family sentiment against German leadership (Adolph Hitler) lead to the dropping of the previous titles, his father became Louis Mountbatten.

After he finished his studies at Lockers Park Prep School, as well as Naval Cadet School, he served with the Royal Navy during WWI. In 1922 during a Royal tour in India he began a firm friendship with Edward, Prince of Whales. The friendship cooled significantly in 1936. Mountbatten was torn between his loyalties to the wider Royal Throne and the King. He decided to side firmly with Prince Albert, the Duke of York.

His military career was filled with highs and lows, but most notably he was a favorite of Winston Churchill, which gives some idea of where he stood militarily. He was rumored to have been a great lover to both sexes, having many extra-marital affairs (which were later proven true). However, he was not loved by all - he was assassinated in 1979 by the Provisional Irish Republican Army, who planted a bomb in his boat.

Who is Albert Ball? He was an English World War One Fighter Pilot hero.

Captain Ball was born in Nottingham in August of 1896 and died May 7, 1917 in Annceutlin. He served from 1914-1917, where he received many awards.

He was the captain of the No.56 squadron RFC (Royal Flying Corps.). Captain Ball was an engineering student before he joined the military. Idolized by the public, he joined Sherwood Forester before being transferred to RFC in 1915. Starting in as a loner he soon received the reputation of a fearless pilot and an excellent marksman.

While serving in WWI he received many awards. Victoria Cross (VC), for consistent bravery and the most conspicuous from April 25th to May 6th 1917.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the double Bar, Military Cross (MC), Chevalier of Legion d’honneur, along with Order of St. George (4th Class).

Captain Ball took part in 26 combats, destroyed 11 hostile airplanes flying solo in which he chose. On one occasion he fought six machines, twice he fought five and once he fought four. Leading two British planes he attacked a formation of eight. Most of his victories came from shooting beneath his enemy.

On May 7, 1917 he made his final flight for WWI, he was flying a SE5 A4850. When his plane come out of a dark thunderstorm cloud before landing to a crash. He had only suffered a bruise on his forehead. At the time of his death, he was leading Allied Ace with 44 victories, and tied 11th in the top 20 WWI pilots in British Empire.

Hugo Junkers was one of seven boys in his family. He was born in Germany and his mother died when he was only 10 years old. Hugo’s father owned a small textile company in which Hugo later ran for a short time after graduating with a degree in technical engineering. He had a desire to continue his studies in electrical engineering, so he went on to school for this. After graduating he again put more time into studying, and this time in electro-mechanics, economical trades, and gas engines. With his extensive studies this made him a valuable and knowledgeable individual. He was soon working to further the development of gas engines.

A short time later Hugo partnered with his former boss to form a Laboratory for gas engines. It took them two years before they came up with and patented the first useful Double Piston Gas Engine. A few years later Hugo began his own company with an old school mate. They called the company Junkers + Co. Here they developed the gas stove.

By this time Hugo was 39 years old and he decided it was time to start his own family. Hugo’s father-in-law was his head of a local high school. Hugo and his wife moved to the city where she was raised and he became head of the Machine Laboratories at the school.

He also started the Experimental Laboratories Professor Junkers. The reason behind this was to develop large engines that were intended for fighter ships. Within time he developed oil engines which were built for the British Navy. He also worked on engines for locomotives, engines for power generators, and in 1915 he directed his studies toward aircraft engines. He developed two different heavy armored battle aircrafts. He also had ideas about commercial aircrafts, which were postponed because of World War II.

Robert Lawrence Eichelberger was born in Urbana, Ohio, on March 9, 1886. He was a 1909 graduate of the United States West Point Military Academy, and began his career shortly after graduating. It was at this time that he entered the Army as an infantry lieutenant. Eichelberger is best know for his acclaimed work during World War II. Eichelberger served in a number of locations abroad before he joined the American Expeditionary Force Siberia where he observed the Japanese military and studied their military strategy. In 1940, Eichelberger was appointed as the Superintendent of West Point, only to leave for active duty in 1942.

After the attack at Pearl Harbor, other soldiers were returning their Japanese medals, giving them to the U.S. Air Force to be attached to the end of bombs with the saying, "return to sender." Instead of surrendering his medals, Eichelberger held onto his, and when questioned about allowing the Air Force to return the honors, it is stated that his response was that he would return them himself.

Eichelberger left for Australia a Commanding General of US I Corps in 1942 and later that year was promoted to Lieutenant General. Eichelberger lead many to victories over Buna, Hollandia and Biak, as well as leading the invasion of the Philippines. By July of 1945 the Japanese on Mindanao had been defeated by Eichelberger forces.

After serving forty years, Eichelberger retired in 1948. He began to write books on his military journey, and in recognition of his outstanding service, Congress promoted him to full General in 1954. On September 26, 1961, Eichelberger died in Asheville, North Carolina and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.

Arthur William Tedder was born on July 11,1890, in Glenguin, Stirling, Scotland. He was educated at the University of Cambridge, and while at the university, he gained a reserve commission in the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1913. As a result of a knee injury and before transferring to the air force, he served as an army officer during World War I up until 1916. In 1936 Tedder became commander in chief of the Royal Air Force, serving for the Far East, and in 1941, serving the Middle East. While in command, his forces saw both defeat and victory and Tedder's reputation as an effective air commander continued to grow. Over time, Tedder became known for the "Tedder Carpet" tactic that involves multiple bombers committing a rolling barrage with highly explosive and napalm bombs ahead of advancing friendly forces.

By 1942 Tedder was knighted and promoted to the rank of Air Marshal. He found himself heavily involved in the planning of the invasion on Sicily, and later, Normandy. He was later named the Deputy Supreme Commander. Towards the ending of the war, Tedder was sent to Russia. The purpose was to seek out a greater coordination between Russia and the Western Allies, and in May of 1945, on behalf of Dwight D. Eisenhower, he signed the German Surrender instrument.

As the war ended, Tedder was privileged as First Barron Tedder, and between 1946 and 1950 serves as Chief of the Air Staff. Tedder suffered for several years with Parkinson's Disease. He passed away on Jun 3, 1967 in Surrey, England at the age of 76.

Professor Junkers was born in 1859 in Rheydt. At the age of 56 he built his first airplane. At that time he owned a factory in Dessau, Germany. His factory built steam boilers and heating equipment. In 1913 Junkers Motors was founded and they built large diesel engine for ships. Two years later Junkers built his first all metal plane, which was, know as the J1.

The German government then asked Junkers to partner with them and Anthony Fokker to build airplanes for the Germans. When the war was over Mr. Junkers then started building commercial airplanes. As time went on his company with another competitor in 1926 and they formed Lufthansa Airlines.

When the Nazis took power in 1923 Junker did not cooperate with the Nazis. He did not want to help them build planes for the war. Junkers was threatened by the Nazis and eventually gave in to them. Two years later he died at age 76.

Junkers factories constructed more than 6,000 planes. He built the Ju 88, which was a very versatile airplane that was used in World War II. He also had an engine division, which built turbojet engines also know as the Jumo OO4 engine. There were over 5,000 of these planes built. After the war ended the type of plane that was designed by Junkers was no longer manufactured.

Junkers had an excellent reputation and he will be remembered as the pioneer of airplanes flying over the Atlantic from East to West.

Little is known about the early years of Thomas E. Selfridge. Selfridge, a pioneer in air travel development was born in San Francisco, California, on February 2, 1882, and was a 1903 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. After graduating, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Field Artillery and was assigned to the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps at Fort Myer, Virginia, though his interests clearly lay in the up and coming field of aeronautics.

Selfridge was appointed by President Teddy Roosevelt as an official military observer of flight experiments of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. With this appointment, Selfridge worked on Bell’s team on aeronautic designs. As a result of his association with Bell, Selfridge became a member of the Aerial Experiment Association. It was with this association that Selfridge designed the group’s first airplane but never had the opportunity of flying the plane. However, he did pilot Bell’s “June Bug” and “White Wing” aircrafts.

September 17, 1908, Selfridge flew with Orville Wright over Fort Myer. The plane crashed from a height of approximately 60 feet after just five minutes in the air. Wright suffered a broken leg and some broken ribs. Selfridge suffered a skull fracture and died only hours after the crash.

Selfridge was buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery, just a few hundred feet from where the plane crashed that took his life. Selfridge was truly an admired man among his colleagues, and help to set the aviation standard to what it is today.

Hugo Junkers was a German engineer who pioneered his talents in airplanes and gas engines. The name Junkers is well affiliated with aircrafts that were produced during World World II under his name.
Hugo Junkers started his profession in mechanical engineering. He enjoyed, devised and patented a calorie meter amongst many of his other inventions.

Hugo Junkers' interest in aeronautical work began at the age of fifty.
At 56, Mr. Junkers built his first airplane in a form that is still in existence today. Junkers was also known as an industrialist and owned a factory in Germany that built steam heaters and steam boilers. He also liked what he did with such a passion that he became a professor at the Technical University in Aachen.

When the war ended, Junkers turned his attention in 1923 to commercial aviation and the first transatlantic flight was successfully completed in 1928 and crossed the Atlantic Ocean from East to West. Junkers was a socialist and on several occasions butt heads with Germany's parliament. The Nazis rose to power in 1933 and they in turn wanted to take over Hugo Junker's factories and hoped to continue the building of passenger airplanes.

The German government threatened to put Junkers into prison; they forced Junkers to give them their demands. Hugo Junkers died soon afterwards in 1935 at the age of 76.

Born in Scotland in 1890, Arthur Teddler lived to become a well known British military icon, with many years of service in the Royal Air Force. During his military career he held many positions. As an infantryman, he suffered a knee injury that rendered him incapable of continuing in this position.

Teddler continued his military career, serving in France with the Royal Flying Corps. Here he served as commander of several squadrons. Following World War I, he accepted a permanent commission in the Air Force as Squadron leader. While holding this position he commanded many more squadrons. As the Second World War began in 1939, Teddler was appointed to several high ranking positions within the Royal Air Force. Under his command, his air forces proved to be a key component in a victory of the Battle of El Alamein. It was here that the “Teddler Carpet” tactic was born. By the end of 1943, Teddler had been bestowed the honor of being named Air Chief Marshall. During the planning phase of the invasion of France, known as Operation Overlord, Teddler was appointed Deputy Supreme Commander. It was here that he served under United States General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Teddler was never given any gallantry awards due to the nature of his service. He did however receive many awards for his participation in military actions by several foreign countries, one of which was the United States. Teddler was an avid admirer of astronomy in his later years. He eventually was stricken with Parkinson’s disease and later passed in 1967 at the age of 76.

When most people think of “old ironsides,” they tend to think of a ship that once sailed the war torn waters. However, this nickname also applies to Oliver Cromwell, a man known for his skill, tactics, and controversial methods. For a man that impacted history so deeply, Cromwell really had very little military training.

In fact, Cromwell only had a bit of training within the county militia, which meant that he has no form of formally military training at all. Interestingly, Cromwell did not actually begin to fight any sort of battle until he was around 40 years old, though age did not stop him from rounding up cavalry troops in Cambridgeshire. The one battle that really marked Cromwell as a military leader was the Battle of Edgehill in October of 1942. During this battle Cromwell gained important military experience, and he was well known by all when this battle came to an end. Around the year 1644, Cromwell was elected the Lieutenant General of horse, which proved to be a good fit for the leader that lead major military attacks via horseback.

After Cromwell had served as a great military leader, he turned to politics (as most former military leaders do), and found himself smack in the middle of a debate over the king. Cromwell was not in favor of the king and eventually he help to greatly contribute to the Second English Civil War in 1648. Eventually, the king was put to death (due to Cromwell’s signature), and the Commonwealth of England was form with Cromwell at the helm. Many people do not consider Cromwell any type of hero, but to those that do – this man has earned his place amongst all those other past heroes.

Born in Kiev in 1889, Igor Sikorsky was a pioneer in Russian aviation. His list of accomplishments is staggering, placing him behind only the Wright Brothers in terms of influence within the aviation industry.

Sikorsky designed the world's first multi-engine, fixed-wing aircraft. As if that wasn't enough, he was even the first man to fly his new creation. A mosquito actually provided the inspiration for Sikorsky's double-engine aircraft.

During a demonstration of one of his single-engine planes, a mosquito got caught in the gasoline and was sucked into the carburetor, forcing an emergency landing. The near accident caused Sikorsky to design a double-engine craft, so that if one engine failed, it would still be possible to safely operate the plane. This led to his creating multi-engine planes such as the Ilya Muromets, which was the world's first four-engine bomber. It was used extensively by Russia during World War I.

Following the War, Sikorsky didn't think it was possible to follow his aviation dreams in war-torn Europe, so he emigrated from Russia to the United States in 1919. His firm, the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Company, was soon purchased by United Aircraft, creating more development opportunities. Sikorsky's next major advancement was the S-42 flying boat, which was used for trans-Atlantic flights by Pan American Airways.

Sikorsky was also the leader in designing and mass producing the modern day helicopter. In 1939, his Vought-Sikorsky 300 became the first rotary helicopter to employ the single-rotor configuration that would eventually become the industry standard.

An engineering wizard whose inventions played significant roles in both World Wars, Hugo Junkers never liked the idea of his innovations being used to fight wars. His pacifist leanings often put him in direct opposition to the German government.

Junkers was born in Rheydt, Germany, in 1859. From 1897 to 1913, Junkers was a professor of mechanical engineering in Aachen, during which time he devised numerous technical advancements ranging from gas engines to heaters and calorie meters.

At the age of 50, Junkers began concentrating solely on aeronautical engineering. Visions of metal airplanes and flying wings had long occupied his imagination, and he was determined to bring his plans to fruition. But as Germany was bracing for war, the government forced Junkers to focus on military aircraft production.

As a result, Junkers produced the world's first practical all-metal aircraft design. Known as the Blechesel, or "sheet metal donkey," the Junkers J.1 remained on display at a Berlin museum until World War II. In 1918, Junkers designed the Junkers D.I., the world's first low-winged, single-seat fighter aircraft. The Junkers CL.I. soon followed. It was a two-seat fighter capable of accommodating both a pilot and rear gunner. Another of his masterstrokes was the Junkers J.I., which featured an armored fuselage to protect the engine, pilot, and observer. It became the most effective ground attack aircraft of World War I.

During World War II, the Nazi regime seized control of Junkers' patents and factories, placing the engineer and pacifist under house arrest. He would die one year later in 1935. He was 76.

His name may not bring instant recognition among the general population in American today, but military buffs will no doubt remember the incredible victories accomplished through the efforts of Arthur Tedder, who commanded the Royal Air Force during World War II.

Tedder began his military career in 1913 when he was given a reserve commission in the Dorsetshire Regiment. He also spent his early career in Fiji as part of the Colonial Service administration, and then returned to Britain and the Dorsetshire Regiment. He was a part of the infantry until 1916 when he suffered a knee injury that made it impossible to continue as a foot solider. He then made the leap to the Royal Air Force and served as commander of several squadrons during the later years of the first World War. Once the dust had settled, Tedder stayed with the Air Force and focused on training as well as his role as commander.

It was during the second World War that Tedder really began to make a name for himself. He was placed in charge of the Middle East Command and eventually played a role in the Mediterranean aspects of the conflict, despite a strained relationship with Prime Minister Churchill. His efforts were employed at the Battle of the Bulge during the last year of the war, and when Germany finally surrendered, it was Tedder who signed the agreement on behalf of Dwight D. Eisenhower. His actions during the war earned him a knighthood in 1942 and place in the chapters of history.

He was an integral part of the British efforts during the first World War. Field Marshal Douglas Haig was an imposing figure who commanded his troops in the British Expeditionary Force, also known as the BEF. He served as the commander at the Battle of the Somme as well as the 3rd Battle of Ypres. He was an important part of the victories that forced the German surrender in 1918.

His first service came overseas in India in 1887. He also spent time serving as the Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII. When war broke out in 1915, Haig was placed in charge of half of the BEF. However, there were tensions between himself and the Field Marshal John French. After a disastrous turn in Belgium, which Haig had advised against, he replaced French as Commander in Chief of the BEF. He was subsequently made a Field Marshal in 1917.

Throughout the course of the war Haig led the British troops with confidence, and it was due to his insight that the troops were able to succeed during the "Hundred Days Offensive" which some historians have dubbed the "by far the greatest military victory in British history." It was at the end of this offensive that the Germans were forced to surrender and World War I was brought to an end. Haig furthered his heroics by devoting his life, after active service, to promoting the well-being of former servicemen and their interests. He was truly the embodiment of a military hero.

Recently, the United States honored a military hero whose exploits occurred more than forty years ago. Lieutenant Colonel Bruce P. Crandall, retired, was granted the Medal of Honor on February 26, 2007, for his actions in the battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam on November 14, 1965. His bravery under fire helped save countless American lives, and was chronicled in the book "We Were Soldiers Once, And Young" by Lt. General Harold G. Moore and Joseph Galloway, later adapted to film.

The action at Ia Drang was the first real test of the air cavalry concept that would see widespread use in Vietnam. Hal Moore was in command of a battalion of troops sent to recon the valley, and his troops were inserted at midday on November 14th. They ended up stepping into a hornet's nest, and came under heavy attack from North Vietnamese forces.

Crandall and his fellow pilots were tasked with delivering troops to the landing zones, and as the battle escalated came under heavier and heavier fire. On his own initiative, Crandall realized that the men on the ground would be in dire need of supplies, and shifted his base of operations to a nearby firebase. He called for volunteers, and began a shuttle service into the hot landing zone, bringing in ammunition and supplies and taking out the wounded.

Bruce Crandall's bravery inspired many of the other helicopter pilots to continue the resupply efforts, giving the troops on the ground a desperately needed lifeline and saving countless numbers of injured soldiers. In a single day he flew 22 sorties, only retiring for the evening when all possible aid had been delivered to the beleaguered troops. His valor under fire and refusal to consider his own safety above the needs of his fellow soldiers earned him the highest honor the United States can bestow.

The Second World War is full of tales of heroism, of valiant soldiers who put their lives on the line for their country and their fellow soldiers, and many of whom didn't return home for it. Many of these were average people, not obvious stereotypical heroic figures like you'd imagine striking a pose for the propaganda posters. As always, what makes a hero is simply what one will do for others at the cost of one's own safety, and an excellent example of this kind of hero is Rodger Young.

Rodger Young was a sergeant in the United States National Guard, but requested to serve as a private when he entered World War II, because he felt his poor eyesight and hearing would be a liability to any men under his command. He was shipped out to the island of New Georgia, northwest of Guadalcanal, as part of Operation Cartwheel, MacArthur and Halsey's plan to take the Pacific from the Japanese.

Young's unit saw heavy action on the island, and on July 31st were engaged with Japanese forces in a dense jungle. The company found itself under withering fire from a Japanese machine gun emplacement and pinned down. Their only choice was to pull back, but the lack of cover and the superiority of the Japanese position would have made any such movement supremely costly in terms of casualties.

Private Young, however, took the initiative, and began advancing on the Japanese machine gun emplacement. He took fire and was wounded twice as he got into range, and then began hurling hand grenades at the enemy soldiers, killing several. In the process, he was hit a third time and killed, but his diversion allowed his fellow soldiers to escape the trap and pull back safely. For this, he was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously on January 6, 1944, and his bravery was recounted in Frank Loesser's "The Ballad of Rodger Young".

All too often the true heroes of war aren't the ones who come back to parades and accolades, but the ones that don't come back at all. Two of the latter are Sgt. First Class Randy Shughart and Master Sgt. Gary Gordon. Both men were serving with Delta Force at the time of the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, and were part of Operation Gothic Serpent, which was tasked with capturing a Somali warlord in the heart of a very hostile city. The events of the battle would later be chronicled in the book and movie "Black Hawk Down".

During the assault, a Black Hawk helicopter took a RPG round and crashed in the city, and forces on the ground were in transit to the site to retrieve the wounded. While this was happening, however, a second helicopter was hit and crashed, and no ground forces were available for rescue. Shughart and Gordon were a sniper team assigned to provide cover from an orbiting helicopter, and when they realized no rescue was forthcoming for the second crew (and hostiles were en route), they requested permission to insert. They were denied twice, but on the third request were allowed to go in.

Gordon and Shughart fought their way to the downed chopper and set up a perimeter defense around the survivors. Both men fought valiantly to protect the downed crew, but the odds were just too much. When their ammunition was finally depleted, the Somalis overran their position, killing both men and taking one survivor, pilot Mike Durant, hostage. Durant was held for several days before being released to U.S. forces.

The selflessness of Gordon and Shughart that day played a very large part in the survival of the pilot, and their bravery earned them posthumously the highest award the United States can give, the Medal of Honor. Both men are remembered as the finest examples of what our armed forces have to offer.

Albert Ball was born in 1896 in Nottingham. At the start of World War I, Albert joined the Sherwood Foresters. What he really wanted to do was fly fighters so he paid for his own flying lessons. Upon completion of his training, he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps.

Early on, Ball proved his fearless spirit by volunteering for dangerous missions by flying into enemy territory and dropping spies and gathering intelligence. In May of 1916, he was allowed to fly a single-seater fighter. It soon became apparent that Ball had a knack for downing enemy aircraft. He flew a Nieuport plane that mounted a Lewis Gun on the upper wing. This allowed the gun to fire without hitting the propeller. Ball preferred to fly under and behind his targets with his gun aiming upward. He would shoot the underbelly of the aircraft through the fuselage.

At the time, Ball was the most prolific British fighter pilot having shot down 44 enemy aircraft. He earned the Military Cross, DSO and posthumously the Victoria Cross. During leave in October of 1916, King George V pinned the DSO on Ball who was only 19 at the time.

On May 17, 1917 during the Battle of Arras, Ball fought valiantly until the sun went down. As the fighters on both sides retreated, Ball was still engaged in battle with an Albatross fighter. It is unclear how his plane went down because there are conflicting accounts. However, it is clear that Albert Ball was one of the greatest fighter pilots in British history.

The second son of Henry Montague Trenchard born on February 3, 1873 in Taunton, England Hugh Montague Trenchard would grow up to be a great man. He grew up in a three miles outside of Taunton England, was a very mischievous child, and did not get the best of schooling because of it.

It was later in life that he would achieve greatness as a military leader. At 20, he received a commission to the Royal Scots Fusiliers serving in the South African War where he established his great riding skills and received an injury in October 1900 when he took a bullet that pierced his lung and grazed his spine. This injury led him to Switzerland where his doctors hoped he would benefit from the clean air. While in Switzerland, he started bobsledding and got into an accident that realigned his spine and returned him to action in South Africa in 1901. He received the Distinguished Service Order in Nigeria where he was second in command for the South Nigerian Regiment in 1906.

He then enrolled in Thomas Sopwith’s flying school and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as second in command of the Central Flying School. He was commander of the First Wing in France, which flew in support of the Fourth Army Corp and Indian Corp. In April 1918, he helped to establish the Royal Air Force as The Chief of Air Staff. He resigned his position shortly after due to an argument with Lord Rothermere, the Air Secretary. In June 1918, Major General Trenchard returned to active duty to assist in the bombing attacks on German railways and airfields. He returned as Chief of Air Staff under Winston Churchill in 1919 and was instrumental in the founding of the RAF College the world's first military air academy. Trenchard inaugurated the Aircraft Apprentice program and was the first to hold the rank of Marshal of The Royal Air force he would retire two years later.

Hugh Montague Trenchard died February 10, 1956 at the age of 83. His funeral and burial were held in Westminster Abby and he is interned in The Battle of Britain Chapel in Westminster Abby.

First Lieutenant Thomas Etholan Selfridge was born February 8, 1882 and graduated from West Point in 1903. Early in his military career, he became fascinated with aeronautics. He read that Alexander Graham Bell was experimenting with kites with great lifting capacity in Nova Scotia, Canada. Thomas wrote Dr. Bell asking permission to witness some of his experiments. Selfridge received permission from President Roosevelt to be assigned in Baddeck. While there, the Aerial Experiment Association was formed with Selfridge becoming the Secretary.

Thomas Selfridge was credited with designing the Association’s first aircraft called the Red Wing. After that, the Association built the White Wing, which Selfridge flew in America becoming the first American officer to fly an aircraft in the states.

In August 1908, Thomas was assigned back in the states to be on a board to test the Army Signal Corps’ first dirigible in Fort Myers, Virginia. After making many successful flights, he was then assigned to test a Wright airplane to see if it could carry two people and fly 40 miles an hour. Orville Wright made a successful solo flight, but when Thomas joined him later, everything started out fine. Then on the fourth pass, the plane fell apart and crashed to the ground. Orville was injured, but Thomas perished in the crash. He became the first person to die in a powered air crash.

Thomas E. Selfridge is buried in Arlington Cemetery and in his honor, the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mount Clemens, Michigan was named after him.

Born in 1912 as Adolf Joseph Ferdinand Galland in Westerholt, Westphalia, he always had a passion for aviation. After graduating high school, he went to the aviation school for Lufthansa airlines, then transferred to the technically illegal German air force, referred to as Luftwaffe. Once based near Berlin, he became one of the most decorated German fighter pilots in their military history.

Galland flew some 300 plus ground missions over Spain during the Condor Legion and Spanish civil war. He developed gasoline and oil bombs, and received the Spanish Cross in gold with diamonds following their victory. Galland was again promoted right before World War II. He participated in 50 ground missions during the Invasion of Poland. Galland was then transferred to a fighter unit where he gained his first aerial victory. This victory led him on to 14 more victories which awarded him the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. He was one of only 27 recipients to ever receive this award. His victories continued, as did his military achievements. He claimed a total of 103 victories in 705 missions from 1941-1945, all of which were against Western Allies. After being shot down twice in 1941, he recovered from his minor injuries and was back at the helm. In 1942, Galland became the youngest German officer to ever gain the rank of General.

In Galland’s next few years of command, he became a very outspoken critic of his superiors. He was continually at odds with those in command. In 1945, Galland was relieved of his duties as General, and was returned to the front lines in disgrace. He carried out some special missions and was eventually captured by the U.S. Army in 1945. Adolf Galland remained a prisoner of war until 1947.

It is amazing to think a 1937 Cadillac V8 and a 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe are the vehicles that use to rome the streets of America in the early days. Now, the vehicles that own are streets are anywhere from SUV's, Tahoes, convertibles, and many more. Let us not forget the accessories that highlight the sophistication of our vehicles today such as: rims, spinners, the technology of music being heard, or in general the transportation being revised immensely.

Designer and professor, Hugo Junkers, is the reason people are able to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a matter of hours compared to in a matter of days by boat. Junkers owned a factory in Dessau, Germany, laboring with steam boilers and heating equipment. While teaching in Aachen, he went on to build the first flying-wing design. This man not only had wisdom to fill an encyclopedia, but had innumerable ideas of how to advance transportation. Initially, planes had their start with numerous inventors. Junkers joined many inventors in trying to make planes one of a kind. Next, planes were wood-frames covered with fabric. Then, progress inclined to metal monoplanes that would stand the task of flying a hundred miles per hour with the crew count of forty-five. Junkers benefited the Germany government in 1915 with creating planes that were cutting edge in comparison to the models that were already under the control of the government.

Many people are skeptical of the transportation of the airplanes due to catastrophes that have occurred or their personal fear of flying. The invention of Hugo Junkers has journeyed quite a way. Lastly, the big hunk of metal that was once a frame of wood-work not only benefits us in smooth flying, but saves us time in reaching our destination.

Born in Kiev, Russia, on May 25, 1889, Igor Sikorsky was determined to fly, becoming a pioneer of aviation. As a designer and pilot of the worlds’ first multi-engine fixed wing aircraft, he alone ranks on the heels of the Wright brothers in aviation pioneering. Sikorsky was the man spearheading the development of the helicopter, using a single main rotor and vertical tail rotor configuration still in use today.

Sikorsky obtained his inspiration for the development of a multi-engine aircraft from a mosquito. The insect had apparently flown into the gas, where it was then drawn into the engines carburetor. This resulted in engine failure which caused Sikorsky to make a forced landing. From this incident, he deducted the need for an extra engine in case of failure during flight. Sikorsky became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1925, where he continued his work on the helicopter aspect of aviation. On September 14, 1939, his dreams and hard work paid off, making his first flight in the Vought-Sikorsky 300. This aviation wonder was powered by a 75hp engine which turned a single rotor with 3 blades.

Sikorsky continued to design and develop aircraft. His company was responsible for building the first military helicopter, the XR-4. He delivered this helicopter to the United States Army. The XR-4 began the still living tradition, which was the helicopters humanitarian effort for life saving missions in time of military and civil emergency. The Sikorsky name is still in use in the aviation community today.

Thomas E. Selfridge was born in San Francisco, CA in 1882. In 1903, he graduated from West Point Military Academy 31st in a class of 96, Gen. Douglas MacArthur graduated first in the same class.

On December 6, 1907, Selfridge took his first flight on a kite designed by Alexander Graham Bell. The flight took place in Nova Scotia, Canada. The flight lasted seven minutes, and was the first heavier than air flight to take place in Canada.

In August of 1908, Selfridge was instructed to fly a dirigible purchased by the United States Army. At the same time the Army tentatively agreed to purchase an aircraft from the Wright Brothers and scheduled an acceptance flight tests in September of 1908 at Ft. Myer, VA. With a fascination in lighter than air flight and heavier than air flight, Selfridge managed to get an appointment as on observer for these flights.

On September 17, 1908, Selfridge arranged to be a passenger on the trial that happened that day. The Wright Flyer, halfway through the fifth circuit of Ft. Myer, broke the right propeller and lost thrust. This incident caused a vibration that made the broken propeller hit a guy wire holding the rear vertical rudder. This caused the airplane to nose dive for the ground. Orville Wright turned off the engine and managed to get the plane to glide for 75 feet, but the plane crashed nose first.

Unfortunately, both Selfridge and Wright were injured in the crash. Selfridge was thrown against one of the wooden supports and suffered a fractured skull. As a result of the fracture, he underwent surgery but he died later that evening. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

As a result of the crash, the U.S. Army mandated that all pilots would wear a protective helmet when flying. Today Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mt. Clemens Michigan is named after Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge.