Russell Gackenbach, back center, was the navigator aboard the B-29 Superfortress, Necessary Evil, and is the last surviving member of the three crews that flew the atomic bomb mission over Hiroshima, Japan on A More
The scene depicted here is not real, but the danger from fireworks is a reality that is learned painfully every year. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, roughly 9,000 individuals seek eme More
Two U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds execute a precision acrobat technique for a crowd at MacDill Air Force Base Fla., March 23, 2014. The Thunderbird performed for more than 185,000 during the MacDill Presents Tamp More
Explosives are detonated during joint training at the explosive ordnance disposal range May 28, 2014, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. More than 60 TSA officers visited the EOD range for this training during two More
Petty Officers 2nd Class Kyle McDonough and Benjamin Thiel, ordnance team leaders, discuss load plans while exercising at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 12, 2015. McDonough and Thiel participated in a VFA-1 More
U.S. Air Force Combat Control trainees assigned to Operating Location C, 342nd Training Squadron, laugh with each other while sharing a meal, ready to eat during a long day of training Feb. 13, 2015. Working as More
Victoria Thomson stands next to a P-47 Thunderbolt before an Air Force Heritage Flight demonstration on March 6, 2016 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Thomson’s father, Capt. Carl Ekstrom, was killed duri More
As the sun begins to set a U2S Dragon Lady aircraft assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing climbs to altitude after launching from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., June 15, 2016. U-2 pilots often operate at altit More
Airman 1st Class Dominick Partlow, a crewchief with the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, cleans the windows of a C-130J Hercules during a preflight inspection on Nov More
Russell Gackenbach, the navigator aboard the B-29, Necessary Evil, holds a photo he took during the atomic bombing mission over Hiroshima, Japan on Aug. 6, 1945. Gackenbach, who with photos from U.S. Army Air F More
A replica of the Golden Glove P-47 Thunderbolt piloted by Capt. Carl Ekstrom was created by Frank Cronin for Victoria Thomson in memory of her father. Ekstrom was shot down over France following a bomber escort More
The 6th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technicians showcase the destructive capabilities of a shoe bomb to Transportation Security Administration officers at the EOD range May 28, 2014, at More
U.S. Navy Airman Brandon Brown, an aviation electrician from Oceana Naval Air Station, Va., repairs an antenna during a pilot training exercise held at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 12, 2015. The exercise More
Ten of the 19 different tube food meals for U.S. Air Force U-2S pilots are displayed at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center in Natick, Massachusetts, July 6, 2016. Tube food is mass More
Russell Gackenbach, the navigator aboard the B-29 Superfortress, Necessary Evil, holds a photo he took during the atomic bombing mission over Hiroshima, Japan on Aug. 6, 1945. Gackenbach is the last surviving c More
Captain Carl Ekstrom, his daughter Victoria, and wife Myrtle are shown in a family photo prior to his overseas involvement in World War II. Ekstrom was shot down over France while piloting a P-47 Thunderbolt fo More
John Peters, Transportation Security Administration explosives specialist, goes over different threats to look for as a TSA officer during joint training at the explosive ordnance disposal range May 28, 2014, a More
U.S. Navy Seaman Bailea Tidwell, an aviation ordnance technician from VFA-106 Oceana Naval Air Station, Va., prepares a training explosive during a pilot training exercise held at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., More
Dan Nattress, food technologist, monitors the mixing of ingredients in an industrial vat to make chicken-a-la-king tube food at Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center in Natick, Massachuset More
Capt. Carl Ekstrom poses with his battle tested P-47 Thunderbolt. Ekstrom was a two-time Golden Glove boxer which was signified by the distinct mural on his aircraft. Ekstrom was shot down over France while pil More
Airman 1st Class John J. Barr IV, 6th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, demonstrates proper detonation protocol with Michele Rudd, Transportation Security Administration officer, a More
A VFA-106 crew chief from Oceana Naval Air Station, Va., prepares an F-18 Superhornet for flight while exercising at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 12, 2015. The VFA-106’s mission is to serve as the fleet r More
The ingredients for chicken-a-la-king tube food are blended in an industrial mixer at Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center in Natick, Massachusetts, July 6, 2016. Tube food is produced in More
Russell Gackenbach was the navigator aboard the B-29, Necessary Evil, one of three Superfortresses that flew the atomic bomb mission over Hiroshima, Japan on Aug. 6, 1945. Gackenbach, whose duties included docu More
Airman 1st Class John J. Barr IV, 6th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, demonstrates proper detonation protocol with Patrick Laskey, Transportation Security Administration officer, More
A Navy F-18 Super Hornet breaks through the clouds during a training mission held at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 12, 2015. Eighteen Hornets and Super Hornets participated in a VFA-106 Navy Training Exerc More
Capt. Carl Ekstrom poses for his annual boxing profile photo prior to joining the war effort. Ekstrom was a two-time Golden Glove boxer which was later signified by a distinct mural on his aircraft. Ekstrom was More
Displayed is the official Missing Aircrew Report from Dec. 13, 1943 detailing the last actions of Capt. Carl Ekstrom. Ekstrom was shot down over France while piloting a P-47 Thunderbolt following a bomber escor More
Janet Raysick, Transportation Security Administration officer, detonates explosives at the explosive ordnance disposal range May 28, 2014, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. More than 60 TSA officers visited the E More
A Navy T-34 Turbomentor passes through the clouds during a training mission held at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 12, 2015. Two T-34’s and 18 F-18 Hornets and Super Hornets participated in a VFA-106 Navy T More
An assortment of explosives lies on a table at the explosive ordnance disposal range May 28, 2014, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Transportation Security Administration officers came out to MacDill to observe More
A Navy F-18 Super Hornet lands during a training mission held at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 12, 2015. Eighteen Hornets and Super Hornets participated in a VFA-106 Navy Training Exercise that instructed More
Airman 1st Class John J. Barr IV, 6th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, connects fire wire to a blast machine at the explosive ordnance disposal range May 28, 2014, at MacDill Air More
Transportation Security Administration officers record an explosion at the explosive ordnance disposal range May 28, 2014, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. TSA officers were given the opportunity to remotely det More