February 21, 1945
1945: P-47 Thunderbolts attack the Berchtesgaden railway station for the first time; however, the fighters do not attack Hitler’s nearby Eagle’s Nest retreat.
February 20, 1944
1944: MEDALS OF HONOR: Three are received by Eighth Air Force crew members for valorous service this date: Sgt Archibald Mathies, 1Lt William R. Lawley and 2Lt Walter E. Truemper.
February 19, 1936
1936: Brig Gen William “Billy” Mitchell dies at Doctor’s Hospital, New York City. He is later buried in Milwaukee.
February 18, 1943
1943: The first class of 39 flight nurses graduate from the U. S. Army Air Forces School of Air Evacuations at Bowman Field, KY.
February 15, 1944
1944: Twelfth Air Force sends 254 B-17 and B-25 bombers to attack and destroy the Abbey of Monte Cassino, Italy, preparing the way for a later ground attack. The Abbey holds out, and is finally
February 14, 1931
1931: Congress creates the Air Mail Flyers Medal of Honor, retroactive to 15 May 1918.
February 13, 1913
1913: Smithsonian Institute regents appoint an advisory committee to inaugurate the Aerodynamic Laboratory project at Langley Field, VA.
February 12, 1973
1973: Operation HOMECOMING/MACKAY TROPHY. After N. Vietnam releases its POWs, MAC airlift returns them to Clark. When the POWs reach America, the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing transfers them to various military hospitals. Altogether, the
February 11, 1977
1977: Jimmy Carter becomes the first President to fly in the E-4A National Emergency Airborne Command Post in a flight from Andrews AFB, MD to Robins AFB, GA.
February 8, 1918
1918: The Army changes its aircraft insignia to concentric circles of red and blue around white. See http://wwiisquadronpatches.com/NationalInsigniaHistoryUSAircraft.html for a capsule history of roundels.