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NEWS | April 3, 2006

WWII triple ace awed by Raptor

By Senior Airman Christian Michael 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

He was overwhelmed.

He stood there, a man representing the past glory of almost 40 years of American air dominance, looking up at the Air Force’s newest fighter -- and felt he had nothing adequate to describe it.

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Gordon Graham, triple World War II Ace and former Tactical Air Command vice commander, got to touch the F-22A Raptor Sunday afternoon with his family while visiting from his home here in Virginia.

“I thought the F-15 was the end of the road,” said General Graham. “It was the last aircraft I flew in the Air Force. What I see here today is so overwhelming.”

He flew a number of aircraft for the Air Force and then afterward with McDonnell Douglas. When looking at the F-22A in comparison to the century series jet fighters he flew in his time, he said there was no comparison.

“The weapons selection, supercruise, capabilities ... there isn’t the least doubt by anyone, especially by foreign powers who would presume to compete, that it’s so much further advanced and more capable than anything out there,” he said. “I’m still trying to digest it all.”

The general, having flown aircraft ranging from F-111’s to Navy A-7’s, couldn’t help but appreciate being able to see the Raptor up close and personally.

“I got more out of today than years of researching,” he said. “It’s a very rewarding thing, and I’m coming near my ability to even walk and see an airplane in person.”

The general began his love of flying before World War II when his employer took him up in the air in lieu of his $1 a week salary. While not originally an air enthusiast, before that first flight was over the general said he would “have gone to the ends of the earth to stay in the flying business.”

General Graham joined the Army Air Corp in 1940. After getting his wings, he worked as a gunnery flight instructor before going overseas. While in Europe he flew 73 combat missions, was shot down four times and had 16 and a half Axis kills to his name in the P-51 Mustang.

He went on to fly the F-86 in the Korean War, where he was shot down once. He also flew the F-4 and RF-4 in 146 combat missions in the Vietnam conflict, where he was shot down for the final time. All told, he accrued more than 9,000 flight hours and was never captured by enemy forces.

“If I could do it all over again, I’d be the first to sign up,” said General Graham. “I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it.”