May 17, 1933
1933: The Army’s nonrigid helium coastal patrol airship, the TC-13 (the largest nonrigid airship built for the Air Corps), arrives at Langley Field. ...
May 14, 1923
1923: The Army accepts the first PW-8 prototype, which evolves into the Curtiss Hawk series of biplane pursuit aircraft. The “W” designates a water-cooled engine.
May 13, 1948
1948: The first US built two-stage rocket, the Bumper-WAC, launches from White Sands.
May 12, 1968
1968: MEDAL OF HONOR. Lt Col Joe M. Jackson volunteers to rescue a three-man Air Force combat control team at Kham Duc. Before the rescue, ...
May 11, 1964
1964: Jackie Cochran becomes the first woman to fly more than Mach 2 when she flies an F-104G at 1,429 MPH at Edwards AFB.
May 10, 1944
1944: General Electric’s XJ79 turbojet engine makes its first flight in the NB-45 test aircraft over Schenectady, N.Y. This engine later develops and is tested ...
May 7, 1949
1949: Henry H. Arnold is named General of the Air Force. He had been made a five-star general of the Army in December 1944 ...
May 6, 2006
2006: The last operational C-141 Starlifter (Tail No. 66-0177) lands at Wright Field for donation to the National Museum of the USAF. The landing ...
May 5, 1927
1927: The Patent Office issues a patent on hinged inset trailing edge ailerons, an invention that later becomes a standard feature on aircraft.
May 4, 1968
1968: Gen Carl Spaatz (USAF retired) receives the Thomas D. White National Defense Award for 1968. The above book is published by the Air Force ...