On This Day in History

1942: Through 13 November, the 33rd Fighter Group flies 100 P-40s from the carriers USS Chenango and HMS Archer to land at Port Lyautey airfield, Morocco.

MEDALS OF HONOR received for valorous service this date: 1944: 1Lt Donald J. Gott and 2Lt William E. Metzger (same B-17 crew) Gott citation: https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/donald-j-gott Metzger citation: https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/william-e-metzger-jr 1967: Capt Lance P. Sijan Sijan citation:

  1909: The French government awards Orville and Wilbur Wright the Legion of Honor at its New York consulate.

1912: Through 13 November, the Army uses aircraft to make artillery adjustments for the first time at Fort Riley, Kansas. In this demonstration, Capt Frederick B. Hennessy, Lt Henry H. Arnold, and Lt Thomas DeWitt

1971: Mariner IX, launched on 30 May 1971, goes into an elliptical orbit around Mars, and its first photographs are broadcast live by national television.

1954: The Strategic Air Command retires its last B-29 bomber (number 42-94032) to the aircraft sto­rage facility at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ.

1989: McDonnell-Douglas delivers the last of 470 F-15C/Ds (no. 86-0166) to the Air Force. Col Rick Parsons, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing Commander, flies the aircraft from St Louis to its new home at Eglin AFB,

  1944: MEDAL OF HONOR. While on a mission over Meresberg, Germany, a bomber sustains three hits from anti-aircraft shells. A severely wounded navigator, Lt Robert E. Femoyer, re­fuses morphine to keep his head clear

  1918: Known as the “Ace of Aces” for that conflict, Capt. Edward V. Rickenbacker shoots down his 26th and final enemy aircraft of World War I.

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 training to students at the Aerospace Vehicle Test Course. The