Eagles Portrait Signing

MAXWELL AFB AL-Each year the graduating class of the Air Command and Staff College  commissions an original oil painting for display in Spaatz Hall. Since the inception of the Gathering of Eagles program, this painting commemorates the achievements of the aerospace leaders honored as Eagles each year.

Just as prized by Eagles, graduates, faculty and staff is the Gathering of Eagles limited edition lithograph of the original painting. It is pencil signed by each Eagle next to their individual portrait. These side panels frame a center panel depicting the Eagle's aircraft or spacecraft and is signed and numbered by the renowned aviation artist, Mr. Jay Ashurst.

Jay Ashurst has been the premier artist for the Air Command and Staff College's Gathering of Eagles program since 1982. During the last 30 years, he has painted legends of aviation from Neal Armstrong, Curtis Lemay and former President, George H.W. Bush. Jay graduated from Auburn University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. His art is recognized worldwide and has showcased hundreds of aviation pioneers and their aircraft. Jay Ashurst resides in Montgomery, Alabama.

Lithograph sales are the primary source of funding for the Gathering of Eagles program, which is borne almost entirely by the student body. The Gathering of Eagles lithograph rivals the graduation diploma for prominent display in command sections in all U.S. services and international offices as well.

The GOE Foundation operates on Maxwell Air Force Base through the GOE team, which consists of 15 students selected from the class to execute this year long project while meeting research requirements for graduation and a Master's of Military Operational Art and Science Degree.

Gathering of Eagles is a year-long research elective at the college, which collects, educates and advocates air, space and cyberspace history through biographical studies and personal interviews with the student-selected Eagles.  The event culminates in Gathering of Eagles week where the selected Eagles are interviewed and presented to the students and community to further air space and cyberspace history. 

· Brig. Gen. Robert Cardenas, USAF, retired: More than a 50-year Air Force career as World War II B-24 pilot, Vietnam F-105 pilot; flew B-29s for X-1 flights, chief test pilot for YB-49 Flying Wing, Distinguished Flying Cross recipient.

· Lt. Col. Ed Saylor, USAF, retired: Engineer of B-25 Crew 15, Doolittle Raiders; one of only five surviving Doolittle Raiders today.

· Gloria Heath: Women Airforce Service Pilot, flying B-26 bombers. Founding member of the Flight Safety Foundation; search and rescue pioneer and NASA advisor. Cited as one of the 100 most influential women in aviation at the 100th Anniversary of Flight in 2001.

· Col. Howard "Scrappy" Johnson, USAF, retired: Korea P-51 and Vietnam F-105 pilot; set altitude record in F-104. Founded Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Assoc. with aviation legends Robin Olds and Chappie James.

· Col. Leo Thorsness, USAF, retired: Vietnam F-105 pilot and POW for six years; Medal of Honor recipient.

· Col. James Harvey III, USAF, retired: Member of the Tuskegee Airmen; P-40 and P-51 pilot; winner of first USAF Top Gun competition.

· Col. Hank Fowler, USAF, retired: F-4 pilot, downed during raid over Hanoi; POW for nearly six years; Air Force Judge Advocate General and senior staff attorney for the Alabama Supreme Court.

· Col. Jim Kasler, USAF, retired: WWII/Korea/Vietnam aviator and F-86 Ace; 6.5 years as POW in Hoa Loa and only person ever to receive three AF Crosses.

· Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum, USA, retired: Desert Storm POW after UH-60 Black Hawk shot down on a combat search and rescue mission over Iraq; champion for women in combat and resilience training.

· Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Jim McCoy, USAF, retired: Command post coordinator in 1958 Taiwan Straits crisis, first Strategic Air Command senior enlisted advisor; 6th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.

· Lt. Leon Frankel, USN, retired: WWII Avenger pilot who sank Cruiser Yahagi; Navy Cross recipient; flew the Messerschmitt 109 for the newly-born country of Israel in 1948.