Blue skies and beyond 

In The American Legion’s online memorial database at legion.org/memorials – nearly 3,400 strong – you can find many memorials to warfighting on the ground, and even some to warfighting in the sky.

Crash site of B-17 bomber and names of seven Americans who perished, Pfaffenhofen an der Roth, Germany B-17 “Aircraft No. 44-8015 was on its fourth mission flying from Deopham Green Airfield, England, over Germany. Although the aircraft had been ‘patched up’ after being hit with flak on an earlier mission and was considered unfit to fly, the crew decided to participate in the mission anyway. Three minutes from its target in Ulm and while in a descend, the bomber encountered the ‘prop wash’ of the aircraft in front and broke apart in the middle resulting in the death of seven of its crew. Three crew members parachuted to safety. Although the monument was the idea of the town of Pfaffenhofen, it has now become William Nelson Post GR09's responsibility for maintaining it.”

All Idaho Army National Guard Aviation Soldiers, Boise, Idaho “The Idaho Army National Guard memorial was fairly recently installed (inscribed with names of those killed by accidents).”

National World War II Glider Pilots Association, Okmulgee, Okla. “Plaque made in memory of combat glider pilots and other Airborne assault personnel who trained in Okmulgee … during World War II.”

Vietnam Helicopter Pilots & Crew Memorial, Greensburg, Pa. “Memorial features an actual U.S. Army Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopter, probably the most recognizable icon from the war in Vietnam.”

Space Pioneer Memorial, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. “Dedicated to those whose pioneering spirit inspired generations to explore beyond existing boundaries in a never-ending quest for knowledge.”