Captains Joshua Pugliese and Benjamin Smith present Tuskegee Airman Eddie Gibson and Retired Rear Adm. James Flatley with a "T Tail" memento at the 16th Airlift Squadron, 437th Airlift Wing deployment dinner at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base Feb. 16. More than 130 Airmen from the 16th AS deployed Feb. 24 to operate as part of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. The 816th EAS supports intra-theater airlift, airdrop and aero-medical evacuation missions. Pugliese and Smith are from the 16th AS. Gibson served in the Army Air Corps as a bombardier-navigator, logged 2,300 flight hours and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for heroism. Flatley is the South Carolina Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum chief executive officer. During his career as a naval aviator he earned the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashlee Galloway)

Tuskegee Airman Edward Gibson smiles for the camera at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base Feb. 16. Gibson served in the Army Air Corps as a bombardier-navigator and logged 2,300 flight hours. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashlee Galloway)

Retired Rear Adm. James Flatley attends the 16th Airlift Squadron, 437th Airlift Wing's pre-deployment dinner at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base Feb. 16. More than 130 Airmen from the 16th AS deployed Feb. 24 to operate as part of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. The 816th EAS supports intra-theater airlift, airdrop and aero-medical evacuation missions. Flatley is the South Carolina Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum chief executive officer. During his career as a naval aviator he earned the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashlee Galloway)