Learning Center Our Enshrinees

Albert Francis Hegenberger

• Went to McCook Field, Ohio in 1919 where he developed and tested flight instruments and taught the first course in navigation.
• Received the Mackay Trophy in 1927 for his Lester Maitland “Bird of Paradise” flight from San Francisco, California to Hawaii.
• Made the first complete solo blind flight from take-off to landing for which he received the Collier Trophy.
• Created the first fully automatic flight system.
• Led the 2nd Bomber Command, 21st Bomb Wing during World War II.
• Was Chief of Staff of the 2nd and 14th Air Forces and commanded the 10th Air Force.
• Helped develop an atomic explosion detection system in 1948.