What is a hero? What qualities make him or her special? What makes that person stand out in a crowd? I found a hero in the pages of a set of WWII flight logs that belonged to Colonel Frederick W. Kaufmann.
In his papers, I found a thick, bound volume of flight logs. I turned to the back and began to trace Colonel Kaufmann career. From ROTC commission and service as an ordnance officer to transfer to the Army Air force in 1943. He trained for over a year until he was sent into combat as a B-24 pilot. He was asssigned to the 10th Air Force, 7th Bomb Group, 436th Bomb Squadron flying bombing and supply missions in the forgotten theater of the war, China-Burma-India.

As I read, I learned of the 60 + combat missions during WWII, of being retrained and flying 2 years in the Berlin Airlift, and the 60+ combat missions in Korea.

When I finished the log book, I found a photo of Colonel Kaufmann and his B-24crew during WWII. I also found a photo of an elderly man and his wife at a CBI reunion dinner in 1994. I saw in the photo the same American hero who flew over 5000 hours in his career, won a Silver Star and 5 Distinguished Flying crosses, 3 Air Medals and a host of service medals.

I have few regrets in my life, but one is that I was never fortunate enough to meet Colonel Frederick Kaufmann. He passed away in February 1999 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery with his wife in the Columbarium. I look forward to our family vacation in June 2004, when we will honor the memory of Colonel Kaufmann by placing a wreath at the headstone of a true American hero.

UPDATE:

In June 2004, my family and I were able to locate Colonel Kaufmann's grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC. We layed a wreath in his honor and to honor all those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may live and be free.

UPDATE APRIL 2005:

I am in the process of writing about Colonel (then Captain Kaufmann's experiences in India and China in WWII. I have talked to the three remaining crew-members from Captain Kaufmann's crew and they were able to share some fantastic stories....The book should be ready to go to print by the end of the year.

UPDATE: January 2006:

The project is growing. I have completed most of Colonel Kaufmann's WWII flying experience, now I have to tell the story of his flying in the Berlin Airlift and the Korean War as a C-54 pilot. After that I want to deal with his role in the development of ballistic missles and his role in the development of new weapons for the Air Force, primarily the development of the B-52 bomber.

UPDATE: June 2006

I have finshed researching the Berlin Airlift and have found some facinating information about what it must have been like to fly in that atmosphere for long periods of time, knowing that the population was relying on your supplies being delivered. I have started wrtiting and am starting to research the Korean War flying.

UPDATE: AUGUST 2007

I am done with the writing for the Berlin Airlift and have been writing about the supply missions during the Korean War. I still have to finish Colonel Kaufmann's career. After finishing the writing I have to find a publisher.