E. Daniel Cherry

Edward Daniel Cherry (born March 4, 1939) is an American retired military officer who served as a brigadier general and a career fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. Cherry flew a combined total of 285 combat missions in F-105 Thunderchiefs and F-4 Phantoms during the Vietnam War, and was credited with destroying 1 enemy aircraft in aerial combat.

He retired in 1988, after 29 years of distinguished service.

Early life Edward Daniel Cherry was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on March 4, 1939, and moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, when he was an infant. He graduated from South Cobb High School in Austell, Georgia, in 1957. The mission is featured in the fifth episode of the first season of the History Channel series Dogfights, titled "Hell Over Hanoi", which recreated historical air combat campaigns using modern computer graphics.

Post war In June 1972, Cherry was assigned as operations officer with both the 71st and 94th Tactical Fighter squadrons at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. From January 1975 to August 1976, he served as chief of the Air Force operations briefing team at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. He then served as commander and leader of the Air Force air demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds, at Nellis Air Force Base. In April 1979, he became deputy commander of the 57th Combat Support Group at Nellis.

Later life Cherry and wife Sylvia have two children and four grandchildren.

The F-4D (66-7550), in which Cherry scored his MiG kill, is restored and currently on display at Aviation Heritage Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. On April 5, 2008, Cherry met with Nguyễn and shook hands with him on live TV. They quickly became friends, and Cherry and Nguyễn later traveled across the United States where they visited numerous airshows and landmarks, and took part in numerous speaking sessions where they recounted their experiences in aerial combat and their relationship.

He currently serves as the executive vice president of Aviation Heritage Park, and serves on the board of advisors of Western Kentucky University and its research foundation, and College Heights Foundation and Center for Information Technology. Silver Starw/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster Legion of Meritw/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster Distinguished Flying Crossw/ 1 silver and 3 bronze oak leaf clusters Distinguished Flying Cross(second ribbon required for accoutrement spacing) Meritorious Service Medalw/ 2 bronze oak leaf clusters Air Medalw/ 4 silver oak leaf clusters Air Medalw/ 2 silver and 2 bronze oak leaf clusters(second ribbon required for accoutrement spacing) Air Medal(third ribbon required for accoutrement spacing) Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Awardw/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster Combat Readiness Medalw/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster National Defense Service Medalw/ 1 service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medalw/ 1 silver campaign star Korean Defense Service Medal Air Force Longevity Service Awardw/ 1 silver oak leaf cluster Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal