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National Geographic celebrates USAF birthday August, 1957.


Wailuna
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This advertisement is from National Geographic (August, 1957). It commemorates the Air Force's 50th birthday (or its 10th, depending on how you look at it). It is an impressive set of ribbons.

 

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Obvious question: Was there a real life model for this artwork? The obvious guess is General Jimmy Doolittle. The WWI Victory Medal is in this set and only two Air Force recipients of the Medal of Honor during WWII were also veterans of WWI: Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle and Maj. Pierpont Morgan Hamilton. Both Doolittle and Hamilton eventually wore Air Force blue as General officers in the Air Force Reserves. Other than the Medal of Honor, Hamilton did not have a war record consistent with the other awards in this painting (and he was not rated as a Command Pilot). Are these Doolittle's ribbons? Actually, these ribbons are not entirely consistent with his service record either. Most likely the artwork is just that, a work of art, and neither Doolittle nor Hamilton is the model. Here is Lt. General Doolittle's official portrait taken sometime in the 1950's (he was retired February 28, 1959). Judge for yourself.

 

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