H. R. 685 
One Hundred Thirteenth Congress 
of the 
United States of America 
AT THE SECOND SESSION 
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, 
the third day of January, two thousand and fourteen 
An Act 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the American Fighter Aces, collectively, 
in recognition of their heroic military service and defense of our country’s freedom 
throughout the history of aviation warfare. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Fighter Aces Congres-
sional Gold Medal Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) An American Fighter Ace is a fighter pilot who has 
served honorably in a United States military service and who 
has destroyed 5 or more confirmed enemy aircraft in aerial 
combat during a war or conflict in which American armed 
forces have participated. 
(2) Beginning with World War I, and the first use of air-
planes in warfare, military services have maintained official 
records of individual aerial victory credits during every major 
conflict. Of more than 60,000 United States military fighter 
pilots that have taken to the air, less than 1,500 have become 
Fighter Aces. 
(3) Americans became Fighter Aces in the Spanish Civil 
War, Sino-Japanese War, Russian Civil War, Arab-Israeli War, 
and others. Additionally, American military groups’ recruited 
United States military pilots to form the American Volunteer 
Group, Eagle Squadron, and others that produced American- 
born Fighter Aces fighting against axis powers prior to Pearl 
Harbor. 
(4) The concept of a Fighter Ace is that they fought for 
freedom and democracy across the globe, flying in the face 
of the enemy to defend freedom throughout the history of 
aerial combat. American-born citizens became Fighter Aces 
flying under the flag of United States allied countries and 
became some of the highest scoring Fighter Aces of their respec-
tive wars. 
(5) American Fighter Aces hail from every State in the 
Union, representing numerous ethnic, religious, and cultural 
backgrounds. 
(6) Fighter Aces possess unique skills that have made 
them successful in aerial combat. These include courage, judg-
ment, keen marksmanship, concentration, drive, persistence,
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and split-second thinking that makes an Ace a war fighter 
with unique and valuable flight driven skills. 
(7) The Aces’ training, bravery, skills, sacrifice, attention 
to duty, and innovative spirit illustrate the most celebrated 
traits of the United States military, including service to country 
and the protection of freedom and democracy. 
(8) American Fighter Aces have led distinguished careers 
in the military, education, private enterprise, and politics. Many 
have held the rank of General or Admiral and played leadership 
roles in multiple war efforts from WWI to Vietnam through 
many decades. In some cases they became the highest ranking 
officers for following wars. 
(9) The extraordinary heroism of the American Fighter 
Ace boosted American morale at home and encouraged many 
men and women to enlist to fight for America and democracy 
across the globe. 
(10) Fighter Aces were among America’s most-prized mili-
tary fighters during wars. When they rotated back to the United 
States after combat tours, they trained cadets in fighter pilot 
tactics that they had learned over enemy skies. The teaching 
of combat dogfighting to young aviators strengthened our 
fighter pilots to become more successful in the skies. The net 
effect of this was to shorten wars and save the lives of young 
Americans. 
(11) Following military service, many Fighter Aces became 
test pilots due to their superior flying skills and quick thinking 
abilities. 
(12) Richard Bong was America’s top Ace of all wars scoring 
a confirmed 40 enemy victories in WWII. He was from Poplar, 
Wisconsin, and flew the P–38 Lightning in all his combat 
sorties flying for the 49th Fighter Group. He was killed in 
1945 during a P–80 test flight in which the engine flamed 
out on takeoff. 
(13) The American Fighter Aces are one of the most deco-
rated military groups in American history. Twenty-two Fighter 
Aces have achieved the rank of Admiral in the Navy. Seventy- 
nine Fighter Aces have achieved the rank of General in the 
Army, Marines, and Air Force. Nineteen Medals of Honor have 
been awarded to individual Fighter Aces. 
(14) The American Fighter Aces Association has existed 
for over 50 years as the primary organization with which the 
Aces have preserved their history and told their stories to 
the American public. The Association established and maintains 
the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship Award presented 
annually at the United States Air Force Academy; established 
and maintains an awards program for outstanding fighter pilot 
‘‘lead-in’’ trainee graduates from the Air Force, Navy, and 
Marine Corps; and sponsors a scholarship program for descend-
ants of American Fighter Aces. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the House 
of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate 
shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on 
behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design 
in honor of the American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition
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of their heroic military service and defense of our country’s freedom, 
which has spanned the history of aviation warfare. 
(b) DESIGN
AND STRIKING.—For the purposes of the award 
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscrip-
tions, to be determined by the Secretary. 
(c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the gold medal 
in honor of the American Fighter Aces, the gold medal shall 
be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be avail-
able for display as appropriate and available for research. 
(2) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold 
medal awarded pursuant to this Act available for display else-
where, particularly at appropriate locations associated with 
the American Fighter Aces, and that preference should be given 
to locations affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. 
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the 
gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations 
as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the 
cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, 
and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL MEDALS. 
The medal struck pursuant to this Act is a national medal 
for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code. 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.