Claire J. Gilstad - U.S. Air Force, 1966 to 1994. Gilstad flew 283 missions as an AC-47 gunship pilot in Vietnam during a 12-month tour in 1968. After the Vietnam War he remained in the Air Force, flying C-133, F-4, C-130 and C-141 aircraft. He spent 14 years as a Staff Officer in the 14th Air Force Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command Headquarters, and at the Pentagon. Gilstad, a docent at Museum of Flight, retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 1994 and is currently a civilian pilot and aircraft-owner.
Ray Rignel - U.S. Navy. Rignel flew carrier-based A-6 Intruders off of Navy Carriers on over 100 missions in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. A docent at The Museum of Flight, Rignel was an airline pilot for the Flying Tigers from 1973 to 1989, and for FedEx from 1989 to 2004 as a Captain on DC-10, DC-8, and MD-11 aircraft.
Major Joe Crecca - U.S. Air Force. In 1966, Crecca was assigned to the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing "Gunfighters," in Vietnam. During his 87th combat mission, this F-4 combat pilot was forced to eject over North Vietnam in August 1966. He was taken as a Prisoner of War and spent over 6 years in captivity, before finally being released during Operation Homecoming on February 18, 1973. He eventually returned to flying status and continued to serve as a combat-ready pilot through 1978.