WARBIRD RADIO - The late "Major General Frederick "Boots" Blesse was one of the greatest aces of the Korean War era", according to Museum of the United States Air Force. He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy in 1945 (West Point), and flew two combat tours during the Korean War, racking up 67 missions in F-51's, 35 missions in the F-80, and 121 in the North American F-86 according to USAF records. During his second tour in F-86s, he was officially credited with shooting down nine MiG-15s and one La-9. When he came from Korea, in 1952, he was America's top jet ace, according to the USAF. The Museum of the United States Air Force further states, "Blesse remained with fighter aircraft for practically his entire military career. During the 1955 Air Force Worldwide Gunnery Championship, he won all six trophies offered for individual performance, a feat never equaled since. During the Vietnam War, he served two tours in Southeast Asia; while on his first tour in 1967-1968, he flew 156 combat missions." Major General Blesse retired from the USAF in 1975 as a major general, racking up over 6,500 flying hours in fighter aircraft, and over 650 hours of combat time. He sat down with Warbird Radio's Matt Jolley, during the WWII weekend in Reading, PA around 2010. [Image courtesy of the United States Air Force]