Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Peter L. Smith carried out more than 150 combat/support missions in the Pacific with Torpedo Squadron 28 during World War II.
It was not immediately clear when the first F-16s might enter the conflict as Ukrainian pilots will also have to undertake at least six months’ training.
A senior defense official says the U.S. is beefing up its use of fighter jets around the strategic Strait of Hormuz to protect ships from Iranian seizures.
U.S. Air Force Capt. David Brown, who's an F-16 pilot, said at the Paris Air Show this week that training takes about a year for American military pilots.