World War II veteran Alfred Murphy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony last week in Rochester Hills, Mich., more than 69 years after his final bombing mission in World War II. “The dedication and self-sacrifice of airmen like … Murphy set a standard of excellence for today’s Air Force,” said Col. Philip Sheridan, commander of the Michigan Air National Guard’s 127th Wing, at the April 21 presentation. Murphy, then a technical sergeant, completed 35 missions as a B-17 gunner, mechanic and radio operator with the 91st Bomb Group based at RAF Bassingbourn, England. Even when half his squadron’s B-17s were lost on a mission to Merseberg, Germany, “we never aborted and we never turned back. Not on a single mission,” said Murphy in a release. Murphy’s crew commander vowed to recommend the crew of “Big Gas Bird” for the medal after it survived its tour, but for unknown reasons, that never materialized.
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…