Hoping in

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam- A pilot from the 18th Aggressor Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, gets into the cockpit of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Cope North 2012, Feb. 14. The 18 AS is here in support of Cope North 2012, flying as the opposing force to the other aircraft participating in the Exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)

Awaiting the flight crew

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam- Maintainers from the 18th Aggressor Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, stand ready to receive the pilots to aboard the F-16 Fighting Falcon Aggressor, Feb. 14. The 18 AS is here in support of Cope North 2012, flying as the opposing force to the other aircraft participating in the Exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)

Honoring Flying Tiger Lt. Glen Beneda

FORD ISLAND, Hawaii--Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Gary North speaks to an audience during an event celebrating the legacy of the US-China friendship, held at the Pacific Aviation Museum, Ford Island, Hawaii, Jan. 30, 2012. During the event, the President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Madame Li Xiaolin, presented her film documentary, Touching the Tigers, which tells the story of the late ‘Flying Tigers’ pilot Lt. Glen Beneda. Beneda was a fighter pilot with 14th Air Force, who was shot down and wounded while defending China from Japanese forces during World War II. The documentary also details how Chinese farmers and soldiers helped Beneda escape capture before he was returned to a U.S. air base for medical care. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jerome S. Tayborn/Released)

Honoring Flying Tiger Lt. Glen Beneda

FORD ISLAND, Hawaii--Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Gary North speaks to an audience during an event celebrating the legacy of the US-China friendship, held at the Pacific Aviation Museum, Ford Island, Hawaii, Jan. 30, 2012. During the event, the President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Madame Li Xiaolin, presented her film documentary, Touching the Tigers, which tells the story of the late ‘Flying Tigers’ pilot Lt. Glen Beneda. Beneda was a fighter pilot with 14th Air Force, who was shot down and wounded while defending China from Japanese forces during World War II. The documentary also details how Chinese farmers and soldiers helped Beneda escape capture before he was returned to a U.S. air base for medical care. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jerome S. Tayborn/Released)

Honoring Flying Tiger Lt. Glen Beneda

FORD ISLAND, Hawaii--President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and daughter of former Chinese President Li Xiannian, Madame Li Xiaolin, speaks to an audience during an event celebrating the legacy of the U.S.-China friendship, held at the Pacific Aviation Museum, Ford Island, Hawaii, Jan. 30, 2012. During the event, Madame Li presented her film documentary, Touching the Tigers, which tells the story of the late ‘Flying Tigers’ pilot Lt. Glen Beneda. Beneda was a fighter pilot with 14th Air Force, who was shot down and wounded while defending China from Japanese forces during World War II. The documentary also details how Chinese farmers and soldiers helped Beneda escape capture before he was returned to a U.S. air base for medical care. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jerome S. Tayborn/Released)

Honoring Flying Tiger Lt. Glen Beneda

FORD ISLAND, Hawaii--Gov. Neil Abercrombie speaks to an audience during an event celebrating the legacy of the U.S.-China friendship, held at the Pacific Aviation Museum, Ford Island, Hawaii, Jan. 30, 2012. During the event, the President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Madame Li Xiaolin, presented her film documentary, Touching the Tigers, which tells the story of the late ‘Flying Tigers’ pilot Lt. Glen Beneda. Beneda was a fighter pilot with 14th Air Force, who was shot down and wounded while defending China from Japanese forces during World War II. The documentary also details how Chinese farmers and soldiers helped Beneda escape capture before he was returned to a U.S. air base for medical care. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jerome S. Tayborn/Released)