Legends & Heroes Autograph Tent

Gene Kranz

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Kranz

GENE KRANZ WILL BE AT THE LEGENDS AND HEROES AUTOGRAPH TENT ON SATURDAY ONLY AT WINGS OVER HOUSTON 2026!

Eugene Francis Kranz (born August 17, 1933) is an American aerospace engineer who served as NASA’s second Chief Flight Director, directing missions of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, including the first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11. He directed the successful efforts by the Mission Control team to save the crew of Apollo 13, and was portrayed in the 1995 film of the same name by actor Ed Harris. He characteristically wore a close-cut flattop hairstyle and the dapper “mission” vests (waistcoats) of different styles and materials made by his wife, Marta Kranz, for his Flight Director missions.

Kranz coined the phrase “tough and competent”, which became known as the “Kranz Dictum”. Kranz has been the subject of movies, documentary films, and books and periodical articles. Kranz is a recipient of a Presidential Medal of Freedom. In a 2010 Space Foundation survey, Kranz was ranked as the second most popular space hero.

SSgt and Weapons Specialist Robert McGarry

in 1967-1968 S/Sgt and weapons Specialist Robert McGarry loaded F-4’s in Vietnam. Briefly reassigned back to the states, he immediately volunteered to go back to Vietnam as crew member and gunner for the AC-47 “Spooky” Gunship. by end of 1969, he served as an aerial gunner on the AC-119G “Shadow” Gunships.

Captain Richard Opdyke

Captain Richard Opdyke flew 187 combat missions in Southeast Asia, most conducted while piloting the AC-47 “Spooky” Gunship. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and Air Medal. Captain Opdyke flew the KC-135 Tankers for SAC and has also piloted the Boeing 737 plus numerous other multi-engine aircraft.

Junior Skinner

Junior Skinner enlisted int he Air Force in 1966. Assigned as an aircraft maintenance specialist he was deployed to Vietnam in 1968-1969 working on AC-47 “Spooky” gunships. he is a member of the Spooky Gunship brotherhood – a group of Vietnam War veterans and aircrews who flew or supported missions for the AC-47 “Spooky” Gunship.

1st Lt. Jerry Kelley

Vietnam War veteran 1st Lt. Kelley, an airborne-qualified officer, deployed in 1967 with the 4th PSYOPS Group as a military adviser, helping organize the Vietnamese Army Political Warfare Company to bring in crucial medical aid to the locals. During the Tet Offensive in 1968, while duty officer with Group HQ in Saigon, he established a secured defensive perimeter. Kelley earned the Bronze Star for meritorious service.

Delphine Klaput and original "Rosie the Riveter"

An original “Rosie the Riveter”, Delphine Klaput paused her education at the outbreak of WWII to support the home front at Baltimore’s Glen L. Martin Aircraft Factory. She oversaw production of vital components for B-26 bomber. After the war, Delphine devoted herself to years of community service and received her high school diploma in 2018. In 2024, U.S. Congress honored her wartime service with the Congressional Gold Medal.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class David Shields

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Shields joined the Navy in 1964 as a combat medic serving in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1967. While on recon patrol, his Marine platoon ran into a VC stronghold and was ambushed, leaving his platoon in the field to tend to the dead and wounded. For his actions he earned the Bronze Star with Combat Valor and the Purple Heart. Shields retired from the Navy in 1984.

Captain Mike Penn

Captain Mike Penn, a trained Naval Aviator, flew air combat missions over Vietnam. During his 85th mission, while flying the A-7E Corsair, Mike was shot down and endured 8 months captivity in the “Hanoi Hilton.” Following his Naval service, Mike flew for Continental and Southwest Airlines.

Lt. Col. John Bonner

Lt. Col. John Bonner joined the Air Force in 1968. In 1969, John was deployed to Vietnam piloting the AC-47 “Spooky” Gunship with the 4th Special Operations Squadron, flying 115 combat missions. John piloted numerous aircraft & served 2 tours with the USAF Presidential Wing. He has 4 Distinguished Flying Cross Awards.

Col. Joseph "Joe" Peterburs

www.americansinwartime.org/explore/voices-of-freedom/joe-peterburs

From the Americans in Wartime Experience, Voice of Freedom(R):

Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War, World War II

Joe Peterburs served his country as a member of the Army Air Forces during World War II.  As a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot, Joe shot down a German fighter ACE who was flying the Me-262, the world first operational jet fighter.  After shooting down the German, he too would be shot down.  He became a POW, but escapted and hooked up with a Russian tank unit before being reunited with American forces.

Joe would become a member of the United States Air Force when it became a separate branch of the military in 1947.  He would go on to serve during the Korean, Vietnam and Cold War.  He retired in 1979 at the rank of Colonel.

Among his many awards are the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Col. Joe McPhail

McPhail flew with the most successful Marine Fighting Squadron of 1945 was VMF-323, the “Death Rattlers”. In just a few weeks, they shot down 124½ Japanese and counted a dozen Aces. Col. McPhail downed a Zeke and, on April 12, 1945, while on patrol flying a F4U Corsair, shot day Ki-27 Nate. He is also a decorated combat pilot veteran of the Korean War.

Fred Haise

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Haise

FRED HAISE WILL BE AT THE LEGENDS AND HEROES AUTOGRAPH TENT ON SATURDAY ONLY AT WINGS OVER HOUSTON 2026!

Fred Wallace Haise Jr. (/heɪz/ HAYZ) is an American former NASA astronaut, engineer, fighter pilot with the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force, and a test pilot. He is one of 24 people to have flown to the Moon, having flown as Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 13. He was slated to become the 6th person to walk on the Moon, but the Apollo 13 landing mission was aborted en route.

Haise went on to fly five Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests in 1977, and retired from NASA in 1979.

Capt. Don Smith

A2C William "Buzz" Barron

“Buzz” Barron’s book, Crew Chief, be he ne’er so vile, provides more than a glimpse into what it took to maintain, service, launch, and recover the workhorse of the air war up North. His story is more than just what it was like to be a crew chief; it is about growing up, it is about life. He presents his story with great detail in the vernacular of his native language – Texan! His writing is full of earnest passion, humility, and empathy, sprinkled with subtle humor and some out right passages of out loud laughter.

MSgt Wes Fields

Master Sergeant Fields is a 24-year service and a combat veteran.  He earned 62 decorations and awards while serving in the United States Air Force as an Aerial Gunner on the AC-130H Spectre Gunship assigned to the United States Air Force Special Operations Command. He participated in numerous special operation missions throughout the world.

CW 4 Daniel Flores

Flores is a native Houstonian and flew the AH-64 Apache helicopter.  Flores was activated in 2005 to be deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom and, during his one year tour, was witness to the resurgence of the Taliban.  Flores participated on some of the fiercest fighting in the Hindu Kush Mountains.

Dr. Du Hua

Dr. Du Hua, a Navy veteran, was born in Vietnam during the war and lived under communist rule until escaping in 1981 and coming to the United States a year later. After learning English and earning a GED and an associate’s degree, Dr. Hua joined the United States Navy in 1987. He served multiple deployments, including Operation Desert Storm. After his military career, he became a pharmacist.

Maj. Terry Pappas

Terry Pappas spent 41 years flying for the USAF and NASA, including service during the Vietnam era. He has flown a wide array of aircraft from the T-38, Learjets, Gulfstreams, the Super Guppy, DC-9s, and the SR-71 Blackbird. With more than 10,000 hours, Terry retired from NASA in 2011.

Captain Mike Trahan

Mike Trahan was a pilot in Vietnam flying the AC-47 “Spooky” gunship. After graduation from Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training, he spent two years in the Military Airlift Command, flying the C-141 Starlifter jet transport aircraft. In 1969, he was re-assigned to the AC-47 “Spooky” Gunship and later to the EC-47 Electric Countermeasures aircraft. He served a year of combat in Vietnam in those two aircraft.