Barry Goldwater

==Military career==
[[File:Portrait of USAFR Maj Gen Barry M. Goldwater.jpg|thumb|218x218px|Major General Barry M. Goldwater in his [[United States Air Force]] uniform]]

After America's entry into World War II, Goldwater received a reserve commission in the [[United States Army Air Force]]. Goldwater trained as a pilot and was assigned to the Ferry Command, a newly formed unit that flew aircraft and supplies to war zones worldwide. He spent most of the war flying between the U.S. and [[India]], via the [[Azores]] and North Africa or South America, [[Nigeria]], and Central Africa. Goldwater also flew [[The Hump|"the hump"]], one of the most dangerous routes for supply planes during WWII. The route required aircraft to fly directly over the [[Himalayas]] in order to deliver desperately needed supplies to the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]].<ref>Shiner, Linda, "Flying the Hump: A Veteran Remembers One of many stories in the Library of Congress searchable archive of war reminiscences" (August 26, 2020). www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/voices-veterans-library-congress-180975664/, Retrieved February 1, 2021.</ref>

Following World War II, Goldwater was a leading proponent of creating the [[United States Air Force Academy]], and later served on the academy's Board of Visitors. The visitor center at the academy is now named in his honor. Goldwater remained in the Army Air Reserve after the war and in 1946, at the rank of Colonel, Goldwater founded the [[Arizona Air National Guard]]. Goldwater ordered the Arizona Air National Guard [[desegregate]]d, two years before the rest of the U.S. military. In the early 1960s, while a senator, he commanded the [[9999th Air Reserve Squadron]] as a major general. Goldwater was instrumental in pushing the Pentagon to support the desegregation of the armed services.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=-EgEAAAAMBAJ&q=goldwater%20and%20the%20desegregation%20of%20the%20arizona%20air%20national%20guard&pg=PA93 |contribution= Life |title= Books |date= September 18, 1964 |access-date= March 3, 2012 |archive-date= July 26, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200726150419/https://books.google.com/books?id=-EgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA93&q=goldwater%20and%20the%20desegregation%20of%20the%20arizona%20air%20national%20guard |url-status= live }}</ref>

Goldwater remained in the Arizona [[Air National Guard]] until 1967, retiring as a [[Command Pilot]] with the rank of [[Major general (United States)|major general]].<ref>{{cite web| publisher=U.S. Air Force |title=Major General Barry M Goldwater |url=http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5574|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331211943/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5574|archive-date=March 31, 2013}}</ref>

As a U.S. Senator, Goldwater had a sign in his office that referenced his military career and mindset: "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots."<ref>{{cite news|title=The Gold Standard: Barry Goldwater's 30-year U.S. Senate career made him an icon in Arizona politics|last=Harris|first=Don|date=March 12, 2012|work=Arizona Capital Times}}</ref>