Col. Wayne C. Pittman, Jr. Aviation Collection

Colonel Wayne Pittman retired from the United States Air Force in 1989 after 34 years of service, beginning as a cadet at the Air Force Academy in 1955. A navigator, he spent most of his career in operations, starting out as a crewmember in the B-52 Stratofortress, in which he eventually logged more than 2300 hours. In Southeast Asia, he flew tactical reconnaissance in the RF04 Phantom out of Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base, Vietnam, completing 186 combat missions. After a Pentagon tour as Executive to the Director of Personnel Programs, he spent the last nine years of his active duty in Europe. He served as Base Commander at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, and RAF Fairford, England, as well as two years on the staff of the Inspector General of the United States Air Force, Europe. His final assignment was as Vice Commander of Seventeenth Air Force at Sembach Air Base, Germany, with responsibilities covering all USAF units on the Continent north of the Alps. He is a distinguished graduate of both the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College. His decorations include the Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, ten Air Medals, and the Republic of Vietnam Air Service Medal. From 1991 to 1995, he was Membership Manager for the Air Force Museum Foundation and editor of its Journal. He is now retired, devoting much of his time to volunteering at the Air Force Museum, Wright State University, and the Wright B Flyer Museum. He is the Founder and Past President of the B-52 Association, and Past President of the Council on America's Military Past.