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Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame is a special place that celebrates amazing people connected to the state of Georgia who have done incredible things in aviation and space. It's like a museum that honors pilots, engineers, and other heroes who helped us fly higher and faster!

This Hall of Fame was started in 1989 by Governor Joe Frank Harris. A group of 15 people was put in charge, and it was decided that the Hall of Fame would be located at the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base.

To be chosen for the Hall of Fame, a person must have been born in Georgia, lived there for at least four years, or made their important aviation contributions in Georgia. The very first group of seven people was honored in 1989. More people have been added almost every year since then, and by 2022, there were 123 members!

About the Hall of Fame

The Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame is more than just a list of names. It's a way to remember and share the stories of people who pushed the limits of flight. From early pioneers to modern-day astronauts, these individuals have shaped aviation history. Their achievements inspire new generations to look up at the sky and dream big.

Who Can Join?

The rules for joining the Hall of Fame are pretty clear. People can be honored whether they are still alive or have passed away. The main thing is their connection to Georgia and their impact on aviation. This includes pilots, aircraft designers, business leaders in aviation, and even those who taught others how to fly.

Famous Flyers Honored

Many incredible people have been inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. Here are just a few examples of the amazing individuals recognized for their contributions:

Pioneering Aviators

  • Ben T. Epps 001
    Ben T. Epps, "Georgia's First Aviator"

* Ben T. Epps (1888–1937) is known as “Georgia’s First Aviator.” He was a true pioneer who built and flew his own airplanes. The airport in Athens, Georgia, is named after him! He was inducted in 1989.

  • Jacqueline Cochran 1943
    Jacqueline Cochran, a famous racing pilot

* Jacqueline Cochran (1906–1980) was an American aviation pioneer and one of the best racing pilots of her time. She broke many speed and altitude records. She was inducted in 2002.

  • Hazel Jane Raines, "Georgia's First Lady in Flight"

* Hazel Jane Raines (1916–1956) was a World War II aviator and is called “Georgia’s First Lady in Flight.” She was part of the U.S. Army Air Corps. She was inducted in 1989.

Military Heroes

  • Eugene Jacques Bullard, first African American combat pilot in uniform, First World War
    Eugene Bullard, the first African-American military pilot

* Eugene Jacques Bullard (1894–1961) was a brave World War I aviator. He was the first African-American military pilot. He was inducted in 1989.

  • Robert L. Scott
    Robert L. Scott Jr., author of "God Is My Co-Pilot"

* Robert L. Scott Jr. (1908–2006) was a U.S. Air Force pilot during World War II. He also wrote a famous book called "God Is My Co-Pilot." He was inducted in 1989.

  • Joe M Jackson 2010 crop
    Joe M. Jackson, a Medal of Honor recipient

* Col. Joe M. Jackson (1923–) was a U.S. Air Force aviator in the Vietnam War. He received the Medal of Honor for his incredible bravery. He was inducted in 1998.

Astronauts and Space Explorers

  • Roy Bridges
    Roy D. Bridges Jr., former NASA astronaut

* Maj. Gen. Roy D. Bridges Jr. (1943–) is a former NASA astronaut. He also directed NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Langley Research Center. He was inducted in 1995.

  • Manley Carter
    Manley L. "Sonny" Carter Jr., NASA astronaut

* Manley L. "Sonny" Carter Jr. (1947–1991) was a NASA astronaut who flew on the Space Shuttle mission STS-33. He was inducted in 1992.

  • Astronaut John W. Young
    John W. Young, who walked on the Moon

* Capt. John W. Young (1930–2018) was a NASA astronaut and a naval officer. He was the ninth person to walk on the Moon during the Apollo 16 mission. He also commanded the first Space Shuttle flight, STS-1. He was inducted in 2001.

Breaking Barriers

  • Seven Members of the First Lady Astronaut Trainees in 1995 - GPN-2002-000196-CAGLEcrop
    Myrtle "Kay" Cagle, a member of the Mercury 13 group

* Myrtle "Kay" Cagle (1925–2020) was an aviator and writer. She was also a member of the "Mercury 13" group, which was a group of women who trained to be astronauts, even though they never flew to space. She was inducted in 2003.

  • Donnie L. Cochran (1954–) made history as the first African-American aviator to join the famous Blue Angels flight demonstration team. He was inducted in 2022.
  • Evelyn Greenblatt in WASP uniform circa 1943
    Evelyn Greenblatt Howren, a WASP pilot

* Evelyn Greenblatt Howren (1917–1998) was one of the first WASPs during World War II. She was also one of the first women air traffic controllers! She was inducted in 1994.

Images for kids

  • EdwardPAlexander

    Edward Porter Alexander, military engineer

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    Julius J. Alexander Jr., educator of aviators

  • 20-02-966-alexander

    Ronald R. Alexander, civil aviation businessman

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    Bert Atkinson, World War I aviator

  • 20-02-1010-ayres

    Fred P. Ayres, aircraft manufacturer

  • BGEN Doc Bahnsen

    Brig. Gen. John C. Bahnsen, decorated Vietnam War veteran

  • 20-20-936-bailey

    Capt John M. Bailey, U.S. Air Force

  • 20-02-1087-baker

    Capt. Francis Anderson Baker

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    Samuel "Winn" Baker, Delta Air Lines pilot

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    Capt. Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball, Delta Air Lines pilot

  • 20-02-1065-barron

    Lt. Col. Winton H. Barron

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    Elliot Gordon Zachary Bellah, aviator and skydiver

  • 20-02-1142-boshears

    Forrest E. Boshears

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    Willis M. Boshears Jr., U.S. Air Force

  • 20-02-522-bowlin

    Connie Bowlin, civil aviation business

  • 20-02-593-brooks

    Elton Brooks Jr., restorer of vintage military aircraft

  • 20-02-384-aeronauts

    Capt. Charles Cevor

  • GEN Clay Lucius DuBignon Jr

    Gen. Lucius D. Clay Jr., U.S. Air Force officer

  • Cochran

    Donnie L. Cochran, first African-American aviator in the Blue Angels

  • 20-02-126-aviation

    Col. William B. Colgan, US Army Air Corps aviator

  • 20-02-177-aviation

    Col. Stanley N. Collins Jr., U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Delta Air Lines

  • 20-02-190-aviation

    Lt. Col. Philip E. "Casey" Colman

  • 20-02-1122-coppi

    Charles N. Coppi

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    Lt. Col. Alfred Austell Cunningham, first US Marine Corps aviator

  • 20-02-229-aviation

    Anthony "Tony" Cushenberry Sr.

  • 20-02-698-davis

    Douglas H. Davis

  • US Navy 060504-N-1561L-002 Ships Serviceman Vincent Ibiam, left, poses for a photo opportunity with visiting Tuskegee Airman retired Lt. Col. Charles Dryden, Sr., during Recognition Day Fleet Week USA events aboard USS San Anto

    Lt. Col. Charles E. "Chuck" Dryden, Tuskegee Airman

  • Elrod HT USMC

    Henry T. Elrod, Marine Corps aviator

  • 20-02-759-epps

    Ben T. Epps Jr.

  • 20-02-625-erion

    Bruce F. Erion, television aviator

  • 20-02-791-faulkner

    Ben Faulkner

  • 20-02-614-ferros

    Mike John Ferros, public safety aviator

  • 18-15-135-finch

    Maj. Gen. George G. Finch, Air National Guard

  • 20-02-678-frye

    Charlotte Fogg Frye

  • Fitzhugh Fulton NASA Research Pilot

    Fitzhugh "Fitz" L. Fulton Jr., NASA research pilot

  • 20-02-442-garrett

    David C. Garrett, Delta Air Lines executive

  • 20-02-511-gause

    Maj. Damon J. "Rocky" Gause, US Army Air Corps

  • George gay

    George H. Gay Jr., World War II pilot

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    John H. "Jack" Gray, supervised creation of Atlanta’s main airport

  • 20-02-828-groover

    Capt./Hon. Denmark Groover Jr., Marines Corps aviator

  • 20-02-1077-hails

    Lt. Gen. Robert E. Hails, U.S. Air Force officer

  • Hollis L. Harris

    Hollis L. Harris, airline executive

  • 20-02-1172-haughton

    Daniel J. Haughton, former president and CEO of Lockheed Corporation

  • 20-02-957-hewes

    Capt. Basil Victor Hewes, aviation fire safety pioneer

  • 20-02-880-hill

    Guy Franklin Hill Sr., civil aviation pioneer

  • 20-02-242-hodgson

    Marion Stegeman Hodgson

  • 20-02-1182-hoogerwerf

    Capt. James John Hoogerwerf, U.S. Air Force, Delta Air Lines

  • 20-02-800-howard

    Beverly E. "Old Maestro" Howard

  • 20-02-1192-huff

    Duane Huff, Young Eagles program

  • 20-02-431-hulse

    Frank W. Hulse, founder of Southern Airways

  • Genfrankhunter-usaaf

    Frank O'Driscoll Hunter, World War I flying ace

  • 20-02-604-jones

    Billy Maddox Jones, Lockheed test pilot

  • 20-02-1032-jordan

    Lewis H. Jordan, airline founder

  • 20-02-1152-jungemann

    Edward J. Jungemann

  • 20-20-947-kytle

    Johnny S. Kytle, air mail aviator and aerial acrobat

  • 20-02-657-lowe

    Henry Edward Lowe, Lowe's Aviation

  • 20-20-915-lowe

    James Tarver Lowe, founder of Lowe's Aviation

  • 20-02-837-lyons

    Samuel A. Lyons, artist

  • 20-02-582-malone

    Patricia "Mother" Malone, educator of aviators

  • 20-02-1111-manget

    Henry "Doc" Manget Jr., World War II bomber pilot

  • 20-02-848-maule

    Belford D. Maule, civilian aircraft manufacturer

  • 20-02-869-maule

    June Maule, civilian aircraft manufacturer

  • 20-02-331-mcafee

    Frank M. McAfee

  • David McCampbell

    Capt. David S. McCampbell, U.S. Navy fighter pilot

  • Thomas B McGuire

    Maj. Thomas B. McGuire Jr., World War II major

  • 20-02-570-mckibbon

    John Bingham McKibbon Jr., U.S. Air Force

  • 20-02-999-mcswiggan

    Robert D. "Bob" McSwiggan, educator of aviators

  • 20-02-079-aviation

    Hamilton McWhorter III, U.S. Navy World War II aviator

  • 20-02-103-aviation

    Col. Howard H. "Mac" McWhorter Jr.

  • 20-02-780-messer

    Glenn E. Messer, educator of aviators

  • 20-02-818-miles

    Joseph C. Miles

  • 20-02-216-aviation

    Col. James S. Mosbey, U.S. Air Force

  • 20-02-1099-myers

    Henry Tift Myers Sr.

  • Cornelius Nugteren ec89a63489 1

    Maj. Gen. Cornelius Nugteren, U.S. Air Force major general

  • 20-02-534-owens

    Maj. Marion P. "Dutch" Owens

  • 20-02-068-aviation

    Maj. Gen. Joel B. Paris III

  • Buck Pattillo 01

    Charles “Buck" Pattillo, U.S. Air Force lieutenant general

  • Bill Pattillo 01

    Cuthbert "Bill" Pattillo, U.S. Air Force major general

  • 20-02-547-patton

    Lt. Col. Aldine "Al" Patton

  • 20-02-1054-paulson

    Allen E. Paulson, aviation businessman

  • 20-02-1043-pitts

    Curtis Pitts, designer of aerobatic biplanes

  • StephenPless

    Maj. Stephen W. Pless, U.S. Marine Corps

  • 20-02-203-aviation

    James H. Rhyne, Air America pilot

  • RickenbackerUSAF

    Edward V. Rickenbacker, World War I fighter ace

  • Carl Sanders

    Carl E. Sanders, 74th Governor of Georgia

  • 20-02-769-sanders

    Tye Carter Sanders, proponent of Atlanta's airport

  • 20-02-891-secord

    Lt. Col. Mack D. Secord, U.S. Air Force

  • 20-02-859-shelton

    Lt. Col. Earnest A. Shelton, World War II aviator

  • 20-02-499-smisson

    Lt. Col. Christofer B. Smisson, Delta Air Lines pilot

  • General Perry M. Smith

    Major General Perry McCoy Smith, U.S. Air Force

  • 20-02-1162-sprayberry

    Col. Robert H. Sprayberry

  • 20-02-809-stone

    Guy Orlando Stone, World War I aviator

  • 20-02-646-toland

    Lance Paige Toland, aviation insurance industry

  • 20-02-636-topshe

    Norman Topshe, Delta Air Lines career

  • John H. Towers

    Adm. John H. Towers, U.S. Navy admiral and naval aviator

  • Richard H. Truly - GPN-2002-000090

    Vice Adm. Richard H. Truly, former astronaut and NASA Administrator

  • Hilliard Wilbanks

    Capt. Hilliard A. Wilbanks, Vietnam War pilot

  • 20-02-305-witt

    Col. Lynn "L.E." Witt Jr., World War II aviator

  • 20-02-420-woolman

    Collett Everman Woolman, Delta Air Lines co-founder

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