On This Day in History

1913:    Smithsonian Institute regents appoint an advisory committee to inaugurate the Aerodynamic Laboratory project at Langley Field, VA.

  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

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.

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.

2005:    The YAL-1 Airborne Laser jet completes its airworthiness testing at Edwards.

1967:    A2C Duane Hackney, the most decorated enlisted airman in the Vietnam war, receives the Air Force Cross for rescuing a downed pilot near Mu Gia pass, N. Vietnam.

1948:    Otto Praeger, the founder of US airmail service, dies. From left to right, Airmail Pilot Robert Shank; Dr. Julius Juhlin, postmaster general of Sweden; and Second Assistant Postmaster General Otto Praeger pose for a

1951:    KOREAN WAR/Operation ROUNDUP. To disrupt a new enemy offensive, the U.S. X Corps advances with strong air support near Hoengsong, northeast of Wonju in central Korea. In a 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron F-51 Mustang, Maj

1943:    Navy PBYs rescue Brig Gen Nathan F. Twining, the Thirteenth Air Force Commander, and 14 others near New Hebrides Islands. They had ditched their plane on the way from Guadalcanal to Espiritu Santo and

1991:    BATTLE OF KHAFJI. Iraqi forces cross the Kuwaiti border into Saudi Arabia. The USAF suffers its greatest loss of the war when the Iraqis shoot down the AC-130H Spectre gunship “Spirit 03,” killing all