On This Day in History

1916:   The Lafayette Escadrille, a group of American pilots fighting with the French, is established.

1967:   MEDAL OF HONOR. Maj Leo K. Thorsness receives his medal by protecting a mission to rescue downed airmen in North Vietnam. Flying an F-105, he shoots down one MiG-17, damages another, and drives off

1942:   From the carrier USS Hornet, located 668 miles off Tokyo, Lt Col James H. Doolittle leads 16 B-25s in the first raid on Japan. The range of the mission causes the raiders to crash

1956:   Lockheed unveils its F-104A Starfighter, 55-2956, at Palmdale. General Otto P. Weyland observes, “This is much more than just another fighter, it is a significant and tremendous step forward in our progress in supersonic

1949:   BERLIN AIRLIFT’S BIGGEST DAY. Military aircraft deliver a record 12,940 tons of supplies to Berlin in 1,398 flights within 24 hours.

1999:   Operation ALLIED FORCE. USA Gen Wesley Clark, SACEUR, asks for 300 more U.S. aircraft, bringing the total to 800.

1981:   SPACE SHUTTLE’S MAIDEN VOYAGE. The Space Shuttle Columbia launches on the first flight of a reusable spacecraft.

1944:   MEDAL OF HONOR. Lt Edward Michael receives medal for saving himself, crew member, and B-17 with successful crash landing. 1966: MEDAL OF HONOR. Pararescueman A1C William H. Pitsenbarger hoists nine soldiers to safety aboard

1967:   Operation POKER DICE. SAC beds down B-52s at U-Tapao with the first 3 aircraft arriving during the day. Later in the day they fly their first bombing mission from U-T.

1974:   Between 9 April and 11 May, USAF conducts the flyoff between the A-10 and A-7 at Edwards AFB.