Lt. Hank Miklajcyk.jpg

Lt. Hank Miklajcyk, a Syracuse native who earned the distinction of "Fighter Ace" during World War II is among six Aces from Central New York who will be honored posthumously on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 with the Congressional Gold Medal. He is shown with his P-47C "The Syracusan" in 1943. Miklajcyk, who went missing Nov. 2. 1944, is credited with 7.5 air-to-air combat victories. He served with the 486th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, and was later promoted to captain.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Six "Fighter Aces" from Central New York will posthumously receive the Congressional Gold Medal today at a U.S. Capitol ceremony honoring the nation's top fighter pilots.

The medal, the highest civilian award given out by Congress, will honor the 1,447 Americans who earned the distinction of "Ace" for having at least five air-to-air combat victories. Most achieved the status during World War II.

Of the 77 "Fighter Aces" surviving today, only 37 are able attend the Gold Medal ceremony today at the Capitol, according to the American Fighter Aces Association.

The honorees range in age from 72 to 104. The last fighter pilot to receive the designation fought in the Vietnam War.



Among those due to be awarded medals are four Fighter Aces born in Syracuse, and two from Cortland County.

Maj. Robert Charles Curtis, a Syracuse native who died in May 2012 in Massachusetts, is credited with shooting down 14 enemy planes, topping the list of local Aces.

The other Syracuse natives receiving the Congressional Gold Medal are Capt. Henry "Hank" Joseph Miklajcyk whose plane went missing Nov. 2, 1944; Capt. Frank Lucien Hale, who died June 7, 1944; and Lt. Col. Warner Franklin Gardner, who died Sept. 9, 1968 in Detroit.

The two Cortland natives to be honored today are Maj. Gen. Levi Richard Chase Jr., who died in September 1994 in Cortland, and Capt. Cameron Macdonald Hart, who died Jan. 6, 1946.

Seattle's Museum of Flight, home of the American Fighter Aces Association, arranged with more than 20 volunteer pilots to fly the surviving honorees and their families to Washington, D.C. for the ceremony.

The American Fighter Aces Association says many who earned the distinction had distinguished careers in the military and private sector. Twenty-two achieved the rank of Admiral in the Navy. An additional 79 became a General in the Army, Marines and Air Force.

The ceremony at 3 p.m. today in the Capitol's Emancipation Hall will be broadcast live over the web. You can watch through the live stream below.

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