Novosel, Michael J., Sr., Lt Col

Michael Novosel joined the Army Air Corps on February 7, 1941.  After completing flight training, he was assigned as a test pilot until 1945.  He was assigned to the Pacific theater as a B-29 command pilot for the duration of WW2.  He served in the Army Air Corps and then in the Air Force Reserves until 1964.  In 1964, then Lt Col Novosel wanted to make a contribution to the growing Vietnam War.  The Air Force only offered him a desk job in the states so he approached the Army who decided that with his extensive aviation experience, he would be a good candidate for flying "dustoff" medical evacuation helicopters.  Mike Novosel then resigned his commision in the USAF Reserves and was commissioned a Warrant Office in the US Army.  Warrant Officer Novosel would go on to serve two tours in Vietnam as a Dustoff pilot and would end up accumulating 2,038 hours of combat flight and 2,345 aerial missions that evacuated 5,589 wounded.  During his two tours in Vietnam, he would end up earning the Purple Heart, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Medal of Honor.  When he retired from active duty in November 1984, he was the last WW2 aviator still on active flying status in the US armed forces.