On This Day in History

  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 and is thus the only person to hold the rank in two […]

  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 ends 42 years of ops in the active-duty USAF, ANG,

1927: The Patent Office issues a patent on hinged inset trailing edge ailerons, an invention that later becomes a standard feature on aircraft.

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 Historical Foundation.

1973: The National Aeronautic Association presents the 1972 Mackay Trophy to three Vietnam aces: Captains Richard S. “Steve” Ritchie, Charles B. DeBellevue, and Jeffery S. Feinstein. (Left upper, Ritchie; Right, DeBellevue; Lower left, Feinstein)

  1917: In World War I, Maj William “Billy” Mitchell becomes the first American officer to fly over the German lines, as an observer in a French aircraft.

  1970: APOLLO XI/THOMAS D. WHITE TROPHY. Neil A. Armstrong and Cols Edwin W. Aldrin and Michael Collins receive the trophy for outstanding scientific and technological accomplishment in achieving the first landing of man on

1993: SECDEF Les Aspin announces that women would be allowed to serve in combat roles. This policy change allows female pilots to fly USAF combat aircraft.

2007: Following a 12-minute performance at Langley AFB, Va., Air Combat Command officials give F-22A Raptor demonstration the official seal of approval for future air shows. (Picture shown: Shaw AFB, Jan 7, 2020).    

1966: Using Sidewinder missiles, an F-4C crew shoots down a MiG-21 over North Vietnam, the first to be destroyed in combat. Major Paul J. Gilmore and 1Lt William T. Smith were escorting F-105 Thunderchiefs near