October 30, 1918
1918: Known as the “Ace of Aces” for that conflict, Capt. Edward V. Rickenbacker shoots down his 26th and final enemy aircraft of World ...
October 29, 2004
2004: NASA’s modified KC-135A aerospace vehicle trainer, the “Vomit Comet,” flies its final sortie. NASA used the “Comet” at Edwards AFB to provide zero gravity ...
October 28, 1925
1925: The court-martial of Brigadier General William “Billy” Mitchell for insubordination begins. He is found guilty on 17 Dec and sentenced to five years’ suspension ...
October 27, 1954
1954: Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., becomes the USAF’s first African American general officer.
October 26, 1956
1956: Bell pilot Floyd Carlson flies the XH-40 helicopter for the first time at Fort Worth. Later, the XH-40 becomes the UH-1 Iroquois, or Huey, ...
October 23, 1983
1983: Through 16 November, MAC flies 78 Americans injured in the terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut from Lebanon to medical facilities in ...
October 22, 1957
1957: FIRST CASUALTIES FROM VIETNAM. Eight US servicemen injured in an explosion in Saigon are evacuated to Clark Air Base for treatment at the 6208th ...
October 21, 1965
1965: Gen Curtis E. LeMay, former CSAF, receives the 1965 Collier Trophy, American aviation’s highest honor.
October 20, 1944
1944: RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINES. Southwest Pacific Area forces land unopposed at two points. Gen Douglas MacArthur, accompanied by President Sergio Osmena, lands in the ...
October 19, 2020
1968: Maj William J. Knight receives the Harmon International Aviator’s Trophy for 1968 as the world’s outstanding pilot for flying X-15 No. 2 to 4,520 ...