SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- U.S. Transportation Command and the Scott Air Force Base Distinguished Speaker Series will host a speaking event commemorating the U.S. Air Force's anniversary and the anniversary of American involvement in the Korean War here Sept. 18.

The luncheon event will feature guest speaker, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Frederick C. "Boots" Blesse, Korean War ace.

The date marks the 53d anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. The event is also part of the ongoing 50th anniversary activities commemorating America's entry into the Korean War.

The event is scheduled from 1130 a.m. to 1: 00 p.m. on Sept. 18. at Scott Air Force Base's Scott Club.

Reservations are required by Sept. 13. Contact USTRANSCOM's Maj. Vicki Michetti, at 229-1141, or Lynn Amos at 229-1828.

Menu items include turkey & Swiss on croissant or chef's salad. The cost is $8 for Scott Club members and $10 for non-members.

The Air Force's Band of Mid-America's Mississippi Wood Quintet will provide music for the luncheon.

Blesse is a 1945 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and was commissioned into the U.S. Army Air Corps, later integrating into the U.S. Air Force. He retired from active duty in 1975.

During the Korean War, he flew two volunteer combat tours, November 1950-May 1951 and April 1952-October 1952, completing 67 missions in F-51 aircraft, 35 missions in F-80 aircraft, and 121 missions in F-86 aircraft.

During his second combat tour, he was officially credited with destroying nine Mig-15s and one LA-9 aircraft; probably destroying one additional Mig-15 and damaging three other Mig-15s. He was the U.S. Air Force leading jet ace when he returned to the United States in October 1952.

Blesse again volunteered for combat duty during the Vietnam War in 1967 where he was assigned as director of operations for the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.

During this one-year tour of duty, he flew 108 combat missions over North Vietnam and another 46 in Laos and South Vietnam. He was decorated for valor for helping unload the bombs from a burning F-4 aircraft during a rocket attack.

His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters; Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross with five oak leaf clusters; Bronze Star Medal with "V" device; Purple Heart; Air Medal with 20 oak leaf clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster; Army Commendation Medal; and from the Republic of Vietnam the Cross of Gallantry; Honor Medal, 3d Class; and the Honor Medal, 5th Class.

He was a command pilot with more than 6,500 flying hours, most of which was in fighter aircraft including the P-40, P-47, P-51, F-80, F-86, F-100, F-102, A-7, F-104, F-106, F-4, and F-111.

He has more than 650 hours combat flying and is the nation's sixth ranking jet ace.