Aviation Heritage Park

Auburn, Kentucky native David H. Finney was the Chief of the Johnson Space Center Aircraft Operations Division in the Flight Crew Operations Directorate until his retirement from NASA in July 2008. The Division operated 44 aircraft of eight types that flew 11,000 annual flight hours in support of human space flight and aeronautical research programs. A Naval Academy graduate, he joined an A-7A squadron at NAS Lemoore, California in 1969, made one cruise aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) and flew seventy-five combat missions in Southeast Asia. After a stellar Navy career, Finney joined NASA, and flew 9277 flight hours in 30 types of aircraft and was current in the T-38A, T-38N, Super Guppy, B747 Shuttle Carrier, and the G159 aircraft.

Earl Wassom was a U.S. Army pilot during World War II. He flew 35 missions in a B-24 Liberator bomber and received five Air Medals, a Purple Heart, four European Campaign Stars, and a Distinguished Unit Citation for his service. He was wounded during a mission over Heligoland, Germany, but recovered and completed his tour with his original crew. After the war, he flew multiple aircraft for the Air Transport Command before retiring as an educator and administrator for WKU in 1985.

Tim Vaughan is a retired United States Air Force pilot who flew the A-37 Dragonfly and F-16 Fighting Falcon, amassing over 3,200 hours in the latter aircraft. He served as the Commander of the 138th Operation Group and completed 88 combat missions throughout his career in OPERATION DESERT STORM, OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH, OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH, and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Vaughan received numerous decorations, including the Legion of Merit and Distinguished Flying Cross. He is currently a commercial pilot with United Airlines, flying the Boeing 787. 

Jacob Vaughn moved to Bowling Green in 2009. He played three varsity sports at South Warren HS and went on to get an Associate Degree on a baseball scholarship at Southeast Illinois College. He completed a Bachelor's degree at WKU, received his pilot’s license here and was recruited by the Oklahoma National Guard to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon. He graduated top in his class and received his wings in 2020. Vaughan earned the TOP GUN award in 2021 for Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground warfare excellence and completed the advanced F16 "B" Course, where he received the Gabreski Award for being the Top B-Course Graduate across all aircraft. He currently serves as an Electronic Combat Pilot for the 125th Fighter Squadron and has over 600 hours of flight time.

Allen County native Gerald Roark made his way to the pilot seat of one of the most important aircraft in Desert Storm through the Air Force ROTC program at WKU. He began his USAF career in the Strategic Air Command performing air-to-air refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker. In Vietnam, he refueled B-52 bombers during Project ARCLIGHT, as well as F-4, A-7, F-111 and F-105 fighters totaling 119 missions across Southeast Asia. After the war, he was chosen to procure, equip and train the air wing of the newly-created US Central Command. These aircraft, designated EC-135, carried top-secret communications equipment and transported the commanding generals of CENTCOM. During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Lt Col Roark was the command pilot for General Norman Schwarzkopf.

Joseph Ralston, a former Air Force ROTC student, became the most senior-ranking airman ever produced by the state of Kentucky. He completed a distinguished 37-year Air Force career as Commander, US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO. As only the second USAF officer to be named as NATO commander, General Ralston contributed to preserving the peace, security, and territorial integrity of NATO while commanding approximately 65,000 troops. He has also served as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Commander of the US Air Force Air Combat Command, among other prestigious positions. He is a highly decorated command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Cohen Group of international consultants.

Francis “Pete” Sullivan was born in Bowling Green in 1932 and graduated Bowling Green High School. He earned a football scholarship to Austin Peay State University, where he joined the Navy Aviation Cadet program. In 1955, he qualified as a Naval Aviator at Pensacola NAS and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. He completed 136 combat missions in the Vietnam War flying the Douglas A6 Skyhawk. Sullivan later commanded VMA-331 at MCAS Beaufort, SC. He retired in 1979 as a full colonel with numerous medals and awards.

Warren County native Bobbie Pedigo graduated from Bowling Green High School in 1952, and served in the Kentucky National Guard for 10 years before activating at Ft. Knox. He had two tours of duty in Vietnam, received pilot qualifications in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, rising to the rank of Lt. Col. He served at Bien Hoa as  XO, 145th Combat Aviation Battalion, the  “Old Warriors” and as CO of the 68th Assault Helicopter Company, the “Top Tigers.” He retired from the Army in 1980, but continued his federal duty with the Army as a civil servant from 1981-2003 in Saint Louis, Fort Knox, Germany (Fulda and Wiesbaden), and Fort Campbell. He was a Professor of Military Science at the University of Kentucky, teaching the next generation of Army leaders. He passed away in 2022.

Charles Moran II was born in 1924 in Horse Cave, Kentucky, and developed a passion for aviation and basketball. He played for Ed Diddle at Western State Teachers College in 1942, with teammates Dero Downing and John Oldham, before enlisting in the US Army Air Forces in 1943. Moran flew B-17 and B-26 bombers and transitioned postwar to the P-61 Black Widow and then the formidable F-82 "Twin Mustang" all weather interceptor in Japan in 1948. In 1950, he was part of the 68th All-Weather Fighter Interceptor Squadron tasked to cover for civilians evacuating Seoul during first three days of the Korean War. Moran was hit but maneuvered his fighter to destroy a Yak 9. According to eyewitnesses,  This was the first aerial victory of the Korean war. He was awarded the Air Medal. Just 40 days later, on August 7, 1950, Moran and his radar observer went missing during a night intruder mission over North Korea. The wreckage of his F-82G was found 18 months later. Moran’s body was returned and laid to rest in Horse Cave, Kentucky.

Bowling Green native and WKU alumni Kenneth “Ken” Fleenor began his career with the USAF in 1952, and qualified in the F-86 fighter. Rotating through bases in Japan and Texas, Fleenor was chosen for a brief exchange tour with the US Navy to learn to fly the F-4 Phantom. Fleenor later trained Air Force pilots in the F-4 at MacDill AFB, Fla. In 1964 he moved to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., to become the operations officer and squadron commander in the Air Force's first F-4 wing.  He was sent to Thailand in 1967 to fight the air war in Vietnam, but on his 87th mission, was shot down and captured, spending five and a half years in Hoa Lo Prison, the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Following his release,  he returned to Randolph AFB as assistant deputy commander for operations, and later became Base Commander. Fleenor was appointed to Air Training Command and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1978.