Wingmen honored in ceremony Friday

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Danielle Hill
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. --  Columbus AFB inducted two new "Columbus Wingmen" in a ceremony Friday at the Columbus Club.

The Wingmen program was founded in November 1993 by former wing commander General Robert Foglesong. The term wingman is a common term used in the Air Force today. It was originated from the aviation term for a pilot who flies his or her aircraft in formation with another aircraft. It is believed that the power and strength of that formation is greater than the sum of its individual aircraft.

The Air Force uses this term today to more than just aircraft. A wingman is the term for an Airman who watches out for another.

Columbus AFB took this idea and adapted it to what is known at the Wingman Award. This award is given to an outstanding member of the community who has made exceptional contributions to Columbus AFB and its Airmen. These members have worked continuously to enhance the well being of the base community, as well as to ensure the effectiveness of the overall mission of the 14th Flying Training Wing.

With the departure of each successive wing commander, another member of the community is recognized.

Burnette Avakian, owner of Shadowlawn Bed and Breakfast, was named a Wingman by Col. Dave Gerber, former 14th Flying Training Wing commander.

Dick Leike, co-owner of Crye-Leike realty, was also named a Columbus Wingman by Colonel Gerber.

"The community ties between the City of Columbus and Columbus AFB are very strong," said Colonel Gerber. "In my 24 years of service, I have never seen a relationship like that of what we have here at Columbus."

Earlier in the day, two Columbus AFB streets were named after two of the original four Wingmen named by General Foglesong.

F Street, which runs in front of the Magnolia Inn and to the right of the Columbus Club, was named Webb Street in honor of Ralph "Chicken" Webb. Mr. Webb was an original member of the Columbus Air Base Commission that petitioned the War Department to locate an Army flying school at Columbus. He was the founder of the Royal Crown Cola Bottling Company in Columbus, Miss., and served for 20 years on the National Soft Drink Association Board of Directors. He was very active in the Columbus community as the President of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club. He passed away in August 1997.

C Street was also renamed to Imes Street in honor of Birney Imes. Birney Imes, Sr., was the principal owner and editor-in-chief of the Commercial Dispatch, the City of Columbus newspaper. He was the chairman of the Columbus Air Base Commission that fought to secure land for a pilot training field. Along with Mr. Webb, he petitioned the War Department to bring the airfield to Columbus. His son, Birney Imes, Jr., was also a key player in the beginning of Columbus AFB. The younger Imes picked up on his father's footsteps to help secure the home of CAFB. He was named as one of the original four Columbus Wingmen. The street renaming was also to honor him. The eldest Imes passed away in June 1947.

"It is my honor to name these streets after these Wingmen. I am glad the former commanders gave me the opportunity to begin the renaming of these streets on the base," said Colonel Gerber.

Other Columbus Wingmen include: George "Happy" Irby, Charles Youngblood, Bobby Harper, W. Albert Simmons, Fred Hayslett, G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, Mark Alexander, retired Lt. Col. Gene Smith, Charleigh Ford, Linda Gates, Stan McCrary, Tommy Southerland, retired Col. Nick Ardillo, Stephen Imes, Lori Kesler, Jeffrey Rupp, Chuck Bigelow, Nancy Carpenter and John Laws.