The NAHF Learning Center and the adjacent National Museum of the
United States Air Force served as the venue for the first flight
anniversary dinner and program. The annual event is hosted by
Dayton-based Aviation Trail, Inc. (ATI), a non-profit organization
promoting over 40 regional partnering aviation sites and
venues.
The 2008 class of inductees is a diverse group of individuals
including a WWII triple ace, an airline mogul, a naval aviation
pioneer and an aerobatic champion:
Colonel Clarence E.
"Bud" Anderson, USAF, (Ret), was born in Oakland, CA and
learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1941.
Serving two tours with the 357th Fighter Group in Europe, Anderson
is credited with 16 ¼ aerial victories while flying the P-51
Mustang. He later worked at Wright Patterson Air Force Base as a
fighter test pilot and became the Chief of Fighter Operations,
testing many of the innovations now standard equipment on
today’s tactical aircraft.
While at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB,
Anderson was assigned as Chief of Flight Test Operations and later
Deputy Director of Flight Test. In 1970, Anderson commanded the
355th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying F-105 Thunderchiefs on bombing
strikes against North Vietnam.
He retired from active duty in 1972 and spent 12 years in test
flight operations with the McDonnell Douglas Corporation.
He has logged over 7500 flight hours in more than 130 different
types of aircraft. Colonel Anderson will be present to accept his
enshrinement.
Herbert D.
Kelleher, was born in Haddon Heights, NJ. A founder of
Southwest Airlines Company, Kelleher currently serves as its
Executive Chairman, a position he has held since March 1978.
Southwest commenced service with just three airplanes in 1971
after years of courtroom battles with incumbent airlines. Today,
Southwest operates a fleet of 513 airplanes performing over 3,300
flights per day. Kelleher’s visionary leadership has resulted
in 34 consecutive years of company profitability and Southwest has
never furloughed an employee.
For the eleventh year in a row, FORTUNE magazine’s survey
of all industries recognized Southwest as number five among
America’s top ten most admired corporations.
Kelleher has received numerous awards and honors, including the
US Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Hall of Fame; CEO of the
Year, and one of history’s top three CEOs. Kelleher will be
present to accept his enshrinement.
The late William A.
Moffett is widely recognized as "the father of naval
aviation," responsible for creating the organization and
infrastructure on which naval aviation was built during WWII.
A native of Charleston, SC, Moffett graduated from the United
States Naval Academy in 1890. He received the Medal of Honor for
his action in support of the landing at Veracruz, Mexico, in 1914
while commanding the cruiser Chester.
During WWI, Moffett took command of the Great Lakes Naval
Training Station and established an aviation training program. In
1921, the Navy established the Bureau of Aeronautics with Moffett
at the helm. Under his tutelage, naval aircraft tactics were
developed, the first aircraft carriers were introduced, and the
Naval Aircraft Expansion Act of 1926 provided the Navy with 1,000
operational aircraft.
Moffett died on April 4, 1933 when the airship Akron went down
off the coast of New Jersey. A member of his family is expected to
accept enshrinement on his behalf.
Sean D. Tucker
is a native of Eagle Rock, CA and earned his pilot’s license
at age 17. He has flown fixed-wing crop dusters, and owned a
helicopter aerial business and a Fixed Base Operation. Tucker first
began flying in air shows in the mid-1970’s and has won
numerous aerobatic competitions.
As a member of Team Oracle, Tucker’s air show routine has
thrilled more than 10 million spectators a year. Over half of
Tucker’s maneuvers are original and have never been
duplicated by any other aerobatic pilot.
In 2006, he established the Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety, a
flight training institute dedicated to setting and spreading the
standard for aviation safety in aviation and aerobatics.
Tucker has received numerous honors, including both the air show
industry’s Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship Award and Bill
Barber Award in 1992, and was named one of the 25 "Living Legends
of Flight" by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in
2003. Tucker will be present to accept his enshrinement, and will
perform during the Dayton Air Show taking place the same
weekend.
Each year, the NAHF Board of Nominations, a voting body
comprised of over 130 air and space professionals nationwide,
selects the handful of individuals to be recognized for their
aviation achievements through enshrinement into the NAHF. Making
the announcement tonight will be Chairman of the NAHF Board of
Trustees, retired Air Force Colonel Garald K. "Robbie"
Robinson.
Their formal enshrinement will take place in Dayton -- The
Birthplace of Aviation -- on Saturday, July 19, 2008, where they
will join the 195 legends of flight previously so honored by the
National Aviation Hall of Fame. Often referred to as
"America’s Oscar Night of Aviation," the NAHF enshrinement
celebration in July will attract hundreds of industry leaders,
government and defense officials, former enshrinees, and aviation
enthusiasts worldwide.