Jabara Award
Encyclopedia
The Jabara Award for Airmanship, named in memory of Colonel James Jabara
(1923-1966), is awarded each year to the United States Air Force Academy
graduate whose accomplishments demonstrate superior performance in fields directly involved with aerospace vehicles.
With 15 kills, Colonel Jabara was the second leading Air Force ace of the Korean War. Colonel Jabara was the First American Jet Ace. Each year the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Association of Graduates present the Colonel James Jabara Award to an Academy graduate or graduates whose airmanship contributions are of great significance and set them apart from their contemporaries.
Each major air command, field operating agency, including the National Guard and Reserve, and direct reporting unit may submit one nomination for the award. The winner of the award is authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon
.
James Jabara
James "Jabby" Jabara was the first American jet ace in history. Born in Oklahoma, he lived in Kansas where he enlisted as an aviation cadet at Fort Riley after graduating high school. Jabara attended four flying schools in Texas before he received his pilot's wings and was commissioned as a ...
(1923-1966), is awarded each year to the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
graduate whose accomplishments demonstrate superior performance in fields directly involved with aerospace vehicles.
With 15 kills, Colonel Jabara was the second leading Air Force ace of the Korean War. Colonel Jabara was the First American Jet Ace. Each year the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Association of Graduates present the Colonel James Jabara Award to an Academy graduate or graduates whose airmanship contributions are of great significance and set them apart from their contemporaries.
Each major air command, field operating agency, including the National Guard and Reserve, and direct reporting unit may submit one nomination for the award. The winner of the award is authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
The Air Force Recognition Ribbon is a military award of the United States Air Force which was first created in October 1980. The ribbon is intended to recognize those who have received "non-portable" awards for accomplishment and excellence while serving on active duty in the United States Air...
.
Jabara Award recipients
Year | Recipients |
---|---|
1968 | Capt Donald D. Stevens, ’60 |
1969 | 1st Lt Karl W. Richter Karl W. Richter Karl Wendell Richter was an officer in the United States Air Force and an accomplished fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. At the age of 23 he was the youngest pilot in that conflict to shoot down a MiG in air-to-air combat.-Early career:Karl W. Richter was born October 4, 1942,the youngest of... , ’64 |
1969 | Major Terry R. Jorris, ’61 |
1970 | Capt Wayne A. Warner, ’63 |
1971 | Capt Neil B. Crist, ’66 |
1972 | Capt R. Stephen Ritchie, ’64 |
1973 | Capt Dale E. Stovall Dale E. Stovall Dale E. Stovall is a former Brigadier General in the United States Air Force who figured prominently in several search and rescue operations during the Vietnam War. A member of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron based in Thailand, on June 2, 1972, he recovered Maj... , ’67 |
1974 | Major Robert A. Lodge, ’64 |
1975 | Capt Ronald T. Rand, ’71 Capt Donald R. Backlund, ’71 |
1976 | Lt Col Michael V. Love, ’60 |
1977 | Major Roger E. Carleton, ’67 |
1978 | Lt Col Wayne F. Kendall, Jr., ’60 |
1979 | Major M. H. Bushnell, ’64 |
1980 | Colonel Thomas A. LaPlante, ’61 |
1981 | Capt William T. Gillin, ’73 |
1982 | Lt Col Robert L. Brenci, ’63 |
1983 | Major Neal D. Coyle, ’72 Colonel Karol J. Bobko Karol J. Bobko Karol Joseph "Bo" Bobko is an engineer, retired United States Air Force officer and a former USAF and NASA astronaut.-Personal:Bobko was born in New York City, New York to a Lithuanian-American family... , ’59 |
1984 | Capt Michael P. Davis, ’78 |
1985 | Colonel James N. Allburn, ’63 |
1986 | Major Larry E. Faber, ’73 |
1987 | Capt James A. Trinka, ’78 |
1988 | Major Marc D. Felman, ’76 Capt Thomas M. Ferguson, ’81 |
1989 | Lt Col Robert H. Schnick, ’72 |
1990 | Capt Francis R. Gabreski, ’81 |
1991 | Capt William F. Andrews William F. Andrews William F. Andrews in Allentown, Pennsylvania.Andrews previously served as a Representative in the House of Representatives of the U.S. state of Florida. He currently lives in Delray Beach, Florida with his family.-External links:*... , ’80 |
1992 | Major Corby L. Martin, ’80 |
1993 | Major Ali C. Frohlich, ’80 |
1994 | Lt Col James A. Sills, ’74 |
1995 | Capt Harold E. Waters, ’85 |
1996 | Lt Col Robert P. Donnelly Jr., ’77 |
1997 | Lt Col David J. Scott, ’78 |
1998 | Capt Daniel E. Flynn, ’91 |
1999 | Major Peter E. Gersten, ’89 |
2000 | Major James L. Cardoso, ’88 |
2001 | Major Julian M. Chesnutt, ’89 |
2002 | Major Henry C. Thompson, ’87 |
2003 | Major Leighton T. Anderson, ’92 Major Edward J. Lengel, ’92 |
2004 | Major Jason L. Hanover, ’92 |
2005 | Lt Col Keith Schultz, ’79 |
2006 | Capt John Vargas John Vargas John Vargas is an American actor best known for his role in the films Primary Colors and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.-Early life:John Vargas was born in the Bronx, New York and moved to Puerto Rico when his father was killed in Vietnam. He was accepted into the Air Force Academy upon finishing... , '96 |
2007 | Maj Mark W. Visconi, '93 |
2008 | Capt Jonathan W. Graham, '99 |
2009 | Chesley B. Sullenberger, '73 Capt. Travis A. Burton, '00 Capt Prichard Keely, '04 |
2010 | Capt. Mike Polidor, '04 |