Army Aviation Hall of Fame Induction Banquet

April 25, 2024 - Ticketed Event - April 1 Deadline - Closed

The Army Aviation Hall of Fame honors those persons who have made an outstanding contribution to Army Aviation over an extended period, a doctrinal or technical contribution, an innovation with an identifiable impact on Army Aviation, efforts that were an inspiration to others, or any combination of the foregoing, and records the excellence of their achievements for posterity.

The 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees

General James C. McConville, U.S. Army Retired

A combat leader who has served at every level from platoon to commanding the famed “Screaming Eagles” of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and in assignments ranging from the Chief of Congressional Liaison, operations, and plans staff work, to personnel management, logistics, and even serving in one of our special mission units, GEN (Ret.) Jim McConville has done it all.

After graduating from Flight school at then-Fort Rucker, Alabama in 1982, he spent a great deal of his operational career in the cavalry, earning his spurs and in assignments including the 1st Cavalry Division and the 9th, 10th, and 17th Cavalry Regiments, and is a veteran of multiple combat tours to include Afghanistan and Iraq.

He is a Master Aviator who has amassed over 2,500 total hours in every Army attack and scout aircraft to include the AH-1 Cobra, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, AH-64D Longbow Apache, and the Special Operations AH-6 Little Bird.

He served as the commanding general of the 101st Airborne from 2011 to 2014, the CG of the Combined Joint Task Force-101, during Operation Enduring Freedom, then following his assignment as the Army G-1, he became the Army’s 36th Vice Chief of Staff overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Army, and on August 9, 2019, he was appointed the 40th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.

Through it all, people remained his number one priority. Famously, GEN McConville has repeatedly stated that “People are the Army. Without our people, we’re just a bunch of combat equipment sitting in motor pools, hangars, and arms rooms.”

First Army Aviator Chief of Staff, Master Army Aviator, combat commander, special operator, consummate people-first visionary leader, there is no doubt that General James C. McConville has more than earned his place in the Army Aviation Hall of Fame.

Captain Larry L. Taylor (Deceased) Medal of Honor

A Tennessee volunteer and Armor officer and an attack helicopter leader, CPT Larry Taylor’s service to the nation is to be lauded.

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on February 12, 1942, into a family with a record of service dating to the civil war, he answered the call. He was commissioned in 1966 as an Armor officer and made the leap to Aviation, graduating from then-Fort Rucker in 1967. 1LT Taylor went quickly to Vietnam, assigned to D Troop (Air), 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, flying some of the first Bell AH1-G Cobra attack helicopters in combat.

On June 18, 1968, near the village of Ap Go Cong, Republic of Vietnam, 1LT Taylor commanded a team of two Cobra helicopter gunships that responded to an urgent call for support from an encircled U.S. team. Using artillery delivered illumination, he made attack runs through heavy ground fire for 45 minutes, to deliver accurate rocket attacks on the enemy positions. After determining that the ground route was untenable for the forces to evacuate, out of ammunition and low on fuel, 1LT Taylor decided to extract the team with his two-man Cobra helicopter gunship, a feat never before accomplished. He landed amid the fire and instructed the patrol team to climb aboard anywhere they could. With the four-man long range patrol team seated on rocket-pods and skids, he evacuated them to the nearest friendly location, undoubtedly saving their lives.

Captain Taylor was a dedicated combat leader, engaged by enemy fire 340 times and was shot down five. He was awarded at least 50 combat decorations, including the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, 43 Air Medals, a Bronze Star, and two Distinguished Flying Crosses.

Major General Jeffrey J. Schloesser, U.S. Army Retired

Aviation Soldier, combat Division Commander, Special Operator, Embassy foreign area officer in the Middle East, and founding Deputy Director of the National Counter Terrorism Center, MG Jeffrey J. Schloesser, Retired, has dedicated his life to Army Aviation, the Army, and the Nation.

A graduate of the University of Kansas, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1976, attended Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned as an engineer officer in 1977.

After a tour in Germany, he graduated from flight school in 1981 and served in the 6th Cav before joining the Special Operations world of Task Force 160 for multiple tours including commanding two of their three battalions. Always a CH-47 Chinook driver, he commanded the “Innkeepers” of the 271st Aviation Company in Korea, took part in operations from Haiti as 2nd Battalion, 160th commander, to 12th Aviation Brigade commander in Kosovo as well as countless sensitive missions with the 160th.

Over his 34-year Army Career, he had an amazing breadth of assignments ranging from conventional Army, Special Operations, and Arabic Language school, to becoming a National Security Fellow at Harvard including the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan as a foreign service officer and Army Strategist.

After serving as 101st Airborne Division’s Assistant Division Commander for Support, during Iraqi Freedom, he became the Director of the Army Aviation Task Force on the Army Staff from 2004 to 2005. In 2006 he served as the 101st AASLT Division Commander for 33 months, including 15 months in combat in Afghanistan, also commanding NATO’s Regional Command East, with over 30,000 troops from the U.S., Poland, France, and other allied countries.

Renowned as a military thought-leader and Aviation warrior who always maintained a command climate of total integrity, there is no doubt that MG Jeff Schloesser, Retired, belongs in the Army Aviation Hall of Fame.

Captain Ronald A. Radcliffe, U.S. Army Retired

Ronald A. Radcliffe enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 1961 and was assigned to air defense artillery. He spent one tour in Germany and one tour in Vietnam. In May 1968, he graduated from Officer Candidate School at then-Fort Benning, Georgia. He attended flight school four months later at Fort Wolters, Texas and was subsequently assigned Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA in May 1969.

Returning to Vietnam in 1969, he joined the esteemed 173rd Assault Helicopter Company, of the 1st Aviation Brigade piloting a UH-1 assault helicopter and demonstrating remarkable courage and leadership. His exemplary service saw him promoted to Captain in May 1970. He moved for eight months to Germany before returning to then-Ft. Rucker, Alabama where he learned to fly the OH-6A light observation helicopter.

In October 1971, he returned to Vietnam for his third deployment, this time assigned to F Troop, 4th Cavalry, 1st Aviation Brigade. On 28 April 1972 after taking off from Quang Tri City, his fellow gunship in the flight began to take hits from small arms fire. After radioing a distress call the gunship’s transmission burst into flames and crashed. Despite receiving small arms fire, Radcliffe maneuvered his aircraft to within ten feet of the burning aircraft and its exploding ordnance and landed to help facilitate a rescue. The heat was so intense it burned the hair on his face. After his crew chief and the mortally wounded gunship aircraft commander were on board, he directed his crew chief in applying first aid in an effort to save the life of his comrade.

His selfless and gallant actions, disregard for his personal safety and dedication to his fellow service members were recognized with the award of the Distinguished Service Cross. He is one of the most decorated Black Army Aviators of the Vietnam War.

 
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