On This Day in History

1965:   North Vietnam shoots down Lt Hayden J. Lockhart’s F-100; a week later, he became the first USAF pilot POW in the Vietnam conflict. He is released 12 Feb 73.

  1991:   Thru 30 June, C-5s and C-141s move fire-fighting men and equipment to Kuwait to battle more than 500 burning oil wells set by retreating Iraqi forces.

  1994:   Op DENY FLIGHT: Two F-16s from Ramstein shoot down 4 Serbian Jastreb-Galeb aircraft over Bosnia, the first aerial combat in NATO history.

1990:  The combined Lockheed and USAF F-117A Stealth Fighter design team receives the Robert J. Collier Trophy f.or 1989.

1949:  Through 2 March, from Carswell AFB Capt James Gallagher and crew fly the 43rd Bomb Group’s B-50 Lucky Lady II (No. 46-010), on the first nonstop around-the-world flight. They fly 23,452 miles in 94

1955:   The Army selects Bell Helicopter’s XH-40 for the first turbine-powered helicopter, which later became the famous “Huey” of Vietnam.

1978:   From Vandenberg AFB, CA an Atlas F booster places NAVSTAR 1, the 1st Global Positioning Satellite, into orbit.

1945:   P-47 Thunderbolts attack the Berchtesgaden railway station for the first time; however, the fighters do not attack Hitler’s nearby Eagles Nest retreat.

1944:   MEDAL 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.

1936:   Brig Gen William “Billy” Mitchell dies at Doctor’s Hospital, New York City. He is later buried in Milwaukee.