June 19, 1944
1944: BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA. Through 20 June, American pilots shoot down 476 Japanese aircraft in “The Marianas Turkey Shoot.” The US loses 130 planes.
June 18, 1965
1965: The 1st Air Commando Squadron, 34th Tactical Group, Bien Hoa AB receives the Presidential Unit Citation. This is the first USAF unit so honored since the Korean War.
June 17, 2003
2003: DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES. USAF award 34 aircrew members from Charleston AFB the DFC for actions in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Eight recipients receive the DFC during the first night of humanitarian relief operations in
May 31, 1956
1956: The 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Turner AFB GA receives the first USAF RB-57D (number 53-3973), the reconnaissance version of the British-designed B-57 Canberra.
May 29, 1966
1966: The Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service observes its 20th anniversary. In this period, the ARRS rescued more than 12,000 people throughout the world.
May 28, 1959
1959: A Rhesus monkey, Able, and a squirrel monkey, Miss Baker, are the first primates to be launched and recovered successfully from space. They were recovered after their nose cone hit in the Atlantic Ocean
May 27, 1913
1913: Under General Order No. 39, Army officers who qualified as military aviators receive a Military Aviator’s Certificate and badge. At the time, 24 officers qualify.
May 24, 1972
1972: President Nixon and USSR Premier Kosygin sign an agreement in Moscow for use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
May 23, 2000
2000: Randolph AFB receives the first production-model T-6A Texan II. USAF’s new primary trainer would replace the T-37 and the Navy’s T-34 training aircraft.