    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 128, 113th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 113-105
    113th Congress

    An Act

    To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the American Fighter Aces,
    collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service and
    defense of our country's freedom throughout the history of aviation
    warfare. <>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
    SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``American Fighter Aces Congressional
    Gold Medal Act''.
    SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
    (1) An American Fighter Ace is a fighter pilot who has
    served honorably in a United States military service and who has
    destroyed 5 or more confirmed enemy aircraft in aerial combat
    during a war or conflict in which American armed forces have
    participated.
    (2) Beginning with World War I, and the first use of
    airplanes in warfare, military services have maintained official
    records of individual aerial victory credits during every major
    conflict. Of more than 60,000 United States military fighter
    pilots that have taken to the air, less than 1,500 have become
    Fighter Aces.
    (3) Americans became Fighter Aces in the Spanish Civil War,
    Sino-Japanese War, Russian Civil War, Arab-Israeli War, and
    others. Additionally, American military groups' recruited United
    States military pilots to form the American Volunteer Group,
    Eagle Squadron, and others that produced American-born Fighter
    Aces fighting against axis powers prior to Pearl Harbor.
    (4) The concept of a Fighter Ace is that they fought for
    freedom and democracy across the globe, flying in the face of
    the enemy to defend freedom throughout the history of aerial
    combat. American-born citizens became Fighter Aces flying under
    the flag of United States allied countries and became some of
    the highest scoring Fighter Aces of their respective wars.
    (5) American Fighter Aces hail from every State in the
    Union, representing numerous ethnic, religious, and cultural
    backgrounds.
    (6) Fighter Aces possess unique skills that have made them
    successful in aerial combat. These include courage, judgment,
    keen marksmanship, concentration, drive, persistence,

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    and split-second thinking that makes an Ace a war fighter with
    unique and valuable flight driven skills.
    (7) The Aces' training, bravery, skills, sacrifice,
    attention to duty, and innovative spirit illustrate the most
    celebrated traits of the United States military, including
    service to country and the protection of freedom and democracy.
    (8) American Fighter Aces have led distinguished careers in
    the military, education, private enterprise, and politics. Many
    have held the rank of General or Admiral and played leadership
    roles in multiple war efforts from WWI to Vietnam through many
    decades. In some cases they became the highest ranking officers
    for following wars.
    (9) The extraordinary heroism of the American Fighter Ace
    boosted American morale at home and encouraged many men and
    women to enlist to fight for America and democracy across the
    globe.
    (10) Fighter Aces were among America's most-prized military
    fighters during wars. When they rotated back to the United
    States after combat tours, they trained cadets in fighter pilot
    tactics that they had learned over enemy skies. The teaching of
    combat dogfighting to young aviators strengthened our fighter
    pilots to become more successful in the skies. The net effect of
    this was to shorten wars and save the lives of young Americans.
    (11) Following military service, many Fighter Aces became
    test pilots due to their superior flying skills and quick
    thinking abilities.
    (12) Richard Bong was America's top Ace of all wars scoring
    a confirmed 40 enemy victories in WWII. He was from Poplar,
    Wisconsin, and flew the P-38 Lightning in all his combat sorties
    flying for the 49th Fighter Group. He was killed in 1945 during
    a P-80 test flight in which the engine flamed out on takeoff.
    (13) The American Fighter Aces are one of the most decorated
    military groups in American history. Twenty-two Fighter Aces
    have achieved the rank of Admiral in the Navy. Seventy-nine
    Fighter Aces have achieved the rank of General in the Army,
    Marines, and Air Force. Nineteen Medals of Honor have been
    awarded to individual Fighter Aces.
    (14) The American Fighter Aces Association has existed for
    over 50 years as the primary organization with which the Aces
    have preserved their history and told their stories to the
    American public. The Association established and maintains the
    Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship Award presented annually at the
    United States Air Force Academy; established and maintains an
    awards program for outstanding fighter pilot ``lead-in'' trainee
    graduates from the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps; and
    sponsors a scholarship program for descendants of American
    Fighter Aces.
    SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

    (a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
    Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make
    appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the
    Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design in honor of the
    American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition

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    of their heroic military service and defense of our country's freedom,
    which has spanned the history of aviation warfare.
    (b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to
    in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike the gold
    medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined
    by the Secretary.
    (c) Smithsonian Institution.--
    (1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in
    honor of the American Fighter Aces, the gold medal shall be
    given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be available
    for display as appropriate and available for research.
    (2) Sense of the congress.--It is the sense of the Congress
    that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal
    awarded pursuant to this Act available for display elsewhere,
    particularly at appropriate locations associated with the
    American Fighter Aces, and that preference should be given to
    locations affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.
    SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

    The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
    medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations as the
    Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost
    thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
    overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
    SEC. 5. NATIONAL MEDALS.

    The medal struck pursuant to this Act is a national medal for
    purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

    Approved May 23, 2014.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 685:
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    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014):
    May 19, considered and passed House.
    May 20, considered and passed Senate.