Edward Ireland, a former Army Air Forces pilot, last week took hold, for the first time, of the Distinguished Flying Cross that he won for his heroic service in the skies over Europe during World War II. Fox News 4 of Kansas City reported at its Web site Dec. 6 that Ireland was formally presented with the DFC during a ceremony that same day at Whiteman AFB, Mo. “We had a really close-knit group and had experienced a lot of things together,” said Ireland. “And to the crew, I feel like I have done my thing. I did it for them,” he said. According to the news report, Ireland flew 30 missions during the war and was the only man in his squadron to survive the conflict. Although he was recognized with the DFC after the war, he never actually received it prior to now.
The U.S. thwarted a drone attack on U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in western Iraq on April 22, marking the first time that American troops have been targeted since February, U.S. officials said. “We can confirm it was an attack on Al Asad,” a defense official told Air & Space…