Tuesday, February 24th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, February 24th — 

On this day, back in 1969 –– Airman First Class John Levitow, an AC-47 “Spooky” loadmaster, performs the actions for which he would receive the Medal of Honor.  During a night mission in support of Long Binh Army post, Republic of Vietnam, his aircraft was struck by a mortar round.  The explosion ripped a hole through the wing and fragments made more than 3,500 holes in the fuselage.  All cargo compartment occupants were wounded.  The explosion tore an activated flare from the grasp of a crewmember who had been launching flares to provide illumination for Army ground troops engaged in combat.  Levitow, though stunned by the concussion of the blast and suffering from over 40 fragment wounds in the back and legs, threw himself on the burning flare.  He dragged himself to the rear of the aircraft and hurled the flare through the open cargo door just before it ignited.  Levitow is the first enlisted Air Force serviceman to receive the Medal of Honor and is the exemplar of the Class of 2028. 

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