McGee, Charles

1919-2022 · Contribution: 1943-1973

Combat fighter pilot across three wars (WWII, Korea, Vietnam)

Military & Safety — collage image
Military & Safety

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.

Impact on the world

Flew 409 combined combat missions across three wars, more than any other Air Force pilot in history; inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and received the Congressional Gold Medal.

Life & background

A Tuskegee Airman who flew 137 combat missions in World War II with the 332nd Fighter Group, McGee went on to fly combat missions in Korea and Vietnam as well, retiring as a Colonel with more combined combat missions than any other Air Force pilot in history. He received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 and lived to age 102.

Sources

  1. History.com; National Air and Space Museum