Historical Note: American Fighter Aces Association

The American Fighter Aces Association (AFAA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3), non-military and non-political organization created to honor combat pilots from World War I to present day. The AFAA preserves the history of American fighter Aces, documents the accomplishments of Aces and their impact in combat, holds reunions for members of the association, and grants scholarships and educational programs to students. The group currently recognizes over 1,450 combat pilots as Aces.

The AFAA was founded in 1960 with a meeting of 63 Aces on September 23, 1960, in San Francisco, California. During this meeting, the chairman and board of trustees established five objectives of the organization, which included serving the country in times of peace; preserving the spirit of loyalty and fellowship that motivates the Aces; supporting the development of aerospace weaponry; encouraging youth in the aerospace; and sponsoring educational programs to broaden public knowledge of aerospace history and technology. Since the Vietnam war, the American Fighter Aces Association has created programming and awards to uphold its objectives. The initiatives include academic scholarship funds, an annual Airmanship Cadet award, awards granted to outstanding pilots in the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps., and support for other non-profits that align with the goals of the organization.

A fighter pilot can seek membership under a few circumstances as outlined by the AFAA. A military aviator is recognized as an American Fighter Ace when they take down five or more hostile aircraft in air-to-air combat while serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, or allied services. Verification of Ace status is required through military records for admittance into the Association, although historians, supporters, or institutions can be granted associate or honorary participation pending accordance with Association policies. The Museum of Flight used to have a working relationship with the AFAA, starting around 2004, in which it provided oversight and support. This relationship ended in 2019.

The AFAA collected historic materials from members; the collection was originally housed at the Champlin Fighter Museum in Mesa, Arizona. When the museum closed in May of 2003, the collection was transferred to the Museum of Flight. The Association is still active as of 2026, though there are likely less than a dozen Aces still alive.

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