37. An F-22 Is Named Maloney’s Pony
In 2011, the 27th Fighter Squadron embellished the Maloney’s Pony insignia on to the F-22 Raptor No. 09-0174 fuselage in honor of Maj. Thomas E. Maloney. Maloney was a member of the 27th Fighter Squadron in World War II. He was the highest-scoring Ace at the time. During a strike mission in 1944, his P-38 Lightning named “Maloney’s Pony” crashed in the Mediterranean. Maloney however survived and was rescued by a French Farmer. For admiration of his heroics, the 27th Fighter Squadron traditionally names an aircraft in its fleet after Maloney’s. The new Maloney’s Pony would go onto lead F-22s first mission in Syria.