Major "Boots" Blesse (signed by "Boots" Blesse)

Born into an Army family in the Panama Canal Zone in 1921, Boots Blesse graduated from West Point in 1945 and spent 28 of the next 30 years in fighter aircraft. He flew two tours in Korea, shooting down nine Mig fighters and one LA-9 to become a double ace with ten victories and becoming the nation’s sixth-ranking jet ace. Major Blesse flew the F-86 in scoring all his victories, although he flew 67 missions in Mustangs between November 1950 and February 1951. This action was with the 18th Fighter-Bomber Group. Blesse thus had his share of the low-level strafing work and he also flew 35 missions in the F-80 jet as well as his 121 missions in the Saberjet. He later returned to fly combat missions over Vietnam. In all, he has flown 380 combat missions and holds 36 decorations. Blesse retired from the Air Force in 1975 with the rank of Major General.