On This Day in History

  1943:   For extraordinary heroism this date, radio operator TSgt Forrest Vosler receives the Medal of Honor. Citation: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3041/vosler-forrest-l.php

1931:   Maj Gen Benjamin D. Foulois becomes Chief of the Air Corps.

1972:   Operation LINEBACKER II: President Nixon orders this 11-day all-out bombing campaign against targets in Hanoi and Haiphong, one of the most heavily defended areas of the world. Altogether, the USAF completes 714 B-52 and

  1903:   Orville Wright makes the first sustained, controlled power airplane flight in the Kill Devil Hills, near Kitty Hawk. In the fourth, and longest flight of the day, flown by Wilbur, the Wright Flyer

  1964:   The 1st armed reconnaissance mission is flown in Laos, code named Barrel Roll. This mission initiates continuous tactical fighter operations in SEA.

  2001:   President George W. Bush informs Russia that US would withdraw from the 1972 ABM Treaty to develop and implement a missile defense system.

1944:   MEDAL OF HONOR: Maj Richard I. Bong, with 38 aerial victories, receives the medal from General MacArthur in ceremonies in the Philippines. Citation: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2646/bong-richard-i.php  

    1941:   Germany and Italy declare war on the United States; Congress respond in kind with a similar declaration against them.

1954:   On a rocket-propelled sled run, Lt Col John P. Stapp attains 632 MPH (equal to Mach 1.7 at 35,000 feet) and decelerates to zero in 1.4 seconds. He experiences the greatest G-force ever endured

1941:   The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, bringing the US into World War II. 18th Pursuit Wing P-40 pilots shoot down 10 enemy planes, 4 by 2Lt George S. Welch.