"Here
we go on a project we started at the Weapons School at Nellis back
in 2013. During my planning for our reunion Nellis Day that year,
around the School and Nellis overall, many prominent fighter pilots
had been acknowledged by have streets or buildings named after them.
I noticed one very prominent fighter pilot, F-86 double ace, and
a former wing commander at Nellis wasn't recognized, Frederick "Boots"
Blesse. When I brought this up no one had an answer.
My mind,
racing to come up with something that could be done in the short
term, I asked the question, "Why couldn't the Weapons School
lounge named the "World Class Lounge" be dedicated in
the name of Boots?" That was accepted and during our Nellis
day reunion event that year, the lounge was re-named the "No
Guts No Glory Lounge" in memory of Boots.
There was
one more thing that needed change. The original sign over the lounge
bar had to be taken down and replaced. Our Board members agreed
to pay for the a new electronic sign to be designed, made and placed
over the bar. The project took some time, but by occasional jabs
and queries, a new sign was made and beautifully projects the name
of the lounge in honor of Boots by our 2017 reunion Nellis Day.
For background
info on why the title, "No Guts No Glory." During WW II
and the Korean air war, no one had put down in writing how to perform
the tactics and maneuvers to be performed against and adversary
in offensive and defensive situations. Boots did that and wrote
the first air combat tactics manual and named it "No Guts No
Glory." That manual began the basic bible for basic air combat
tactics. It was used throughout the Air Force including the Weapons
School for many years until more comprehensive doctrine and manuals
had been written. So, that is why naming the Weapons School lounge
the "No Guts No Glory Lounge" was so appropriate."