The George Bledsoe Medal
The George Bledsoe Award is presented to those who make significant contributions to the preservation of the history of the air war in World War II. This award is named in honor George Bledsoe who devoted his lifetime to service to mankind, first as a B-24 Liberator pilot flying dangerous low level night missions with the Carpetbagger operations in England and Scotland during World War II. Later as a teacher to thousands of students, Bledsoe became a role model for living life with integrity and a commitment to excellence. His legacy and his memory continues to live on in the lives of his students where Bledsoe made a lasting impact.
Current Newsletter
Past Recipients of the Bledsoe Award
2020 Roger Freeman, (posthumous)–Rescheduled, due to the pandemic, to be presented in England on September 11, 2022. For his life-long work in creating a significant archival collection of WWII historical materials related to the air war in England, and his research and publishing over sixty books relating to the history of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in England, Dedham, England
2020 Gary L. Moncur–Rescheduled, due to the pandemic, to be presented in Utah sometime in late 2022 or early 2023. For many years of work in creating a significant archival collection of WWII historical materials related to the 303rd Bomb Group (H), and the creation of a web delivery system making those materials accessible to the public worldwide, Saint George, Utah
2020 Dave Osborne, (posthumous)–Rescheduled, due to the pandemic, to be presented in England on September 11, 2022. For his life-long work in creating a significant archival collection of WWII historical materials related to the 381st Bomb Group (H), his meticulous transcriptions of microfilm documents, and his writing and publishing pieces relating to the history of the 381st and the air war in England, Halstead, England
2018 Richard “Rick” Prucha, For many years of work in building a significant historical collection of World War Two materials online related to the 416th Bomb Group (L), and the maintenance of a web delivery system making those materials accessible to the public worldwide.
2018 Chuck Hodge, For his many years of work in creating a significant historical collection of WWII oral history interviews. Using the resources available to him over the years, Chuck Hodge has single-handedly created a valuable historical resource that continues to contribute to our understanding of World War II and the people who secured the victory won on the battlefields, on the sea, and in the air across the globe, Dallas, Texas.
2017 Wayne Sayles, For many years of work in creating a significant historical collection of World War Two materials related to the 416th Bomb Group, and the creation of an archival center for preservation, remembrance, and education dedicated to the American people.
2017 Doris Sayles, For many years of work in creating a significant historical collection of World War Two materials related to the 416th Bomb Group, and the creation of an archival center for preservation, remembrance, and education dedicated to the American people.
2017 Richard Henggeler, For many years of work in creating a significant historical collection of World War Two materials related to the 388th (H) Bomb Group and the creation of a web delivery system making those materials accessible to the public worldwide.
2017 Ross Stewart, For many years of work in creating a significant historical collection of WWII materials related to the 416th Bomb Group and the subsequent Cold War history of the United States Air Force at Wethersfield, Wethersfield Airfield Museum, Wethersfield, England
2010 Russell Strong, For his life-long work in creating a significant archival collection of WWII historical materials related to the 306th Bomb Group, his writing and publishing the 306th Echoes and other pieces relating to the history of the 306th, and for his seminal work on the 306th Bomb Group, First Over Germany. His contributions to preserving the 306th BG Historical Collection and his publishing activities stretching over a half a century represent a significant addition to historical knowledge, Charlotte, North Carolina
2008 Dr. Sally Reid, For your film score for Dry Gulcher Down and the role your music played in preserving the history of the last flight of the Dry Gulcher and the men who came down in the village of Shalford on August 4, 1944. Your musical contributions and creative talent have made possible a valuable historical resource that will contribute to our understanding of the air war in England and the impact those WWII events had on the men of the Eighth Air Force, Nashville, Tennessee
2008 Ralph Franklin, For Ralph and Daphney’s work in creating the 306th Bomb Group Memorial Museum at Thurleigh and their continuing efforts to expand the exhibition platform and bring ever increasing numbers of visitors to the museum. They have single-handedly created one of the finest WWII museums in England and have brought continuing distinction to the memory of the 306th Bomb Group and its service in wartime Britain, Thurleigh, England
2008 Daphney Franklin, For Ralph and Daphney’s work in creating the 306th Bomb Group Memorial Museum at Thurleigh and their continuing efforts to expand the exhibition platform and bring ever increasing numbers of visitors to the museum. They have single-handedly created one of the finest WWII museums in England and have brought continuing distinction to the memory of the 306th Bomb Group and its service in wartime Britain, Thurleigh, England
2007 John William “Jake” Howland, For his 8th Air Force archival projects, specifically focused on the pathfinder navigator missions and his efforts to digitize a large volume of records and distribute large volumes of digital disks for archival collections in the United States, San Antonio, Texas
