On This Day in History

1940:    First flight of the North American NA-73 (P-51 Mustang prototype) at Mines Field near Los Angeles; designed, built and flown in under 130 days.

1973:    For 1st time since 1962 Cuban missile crisis, DoD imposes DEFCON 3 worldwide in response to Soviet reactions to the war between Israel and Egypt.

1974:    The Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) launches an ICBM in the air, dropping a Minuteman I from a C-5A over the Pacific.

1951:    Col Michael N. McCoy, the 306 BMW Commander, flies SAC’s first operational Boeing B-47 (No. 50-008) to his wing at MacDill AFB. In a 19 November ceremony, the B-47 received a name, “The Real

1944:    RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINES. Gen Douglas MacArthur, accompanied by Philippine President Sergio Osmena, lands and states “I have returned.”

2005:    After five decades of service, USAF and Lockheed Martin launch the last Titan IV B rocket from Vandenberg, its 200th launch.

1962:    The Air Force Reserve mobilizes eight troop carrier wings and six aerial port squadrons for the Cuban Missile Crisis. Photo shows Gen LeMay and staff briefing President Kennedy.

  1918:    Brig Gen William “Billy” Mitchell briefs General John J. Pershing, Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, on a plan to airdrop elements of 1st American Infantry Division behind German lines. General Pershing tentatively

1958:    North American Aviation Inc. at Downey, CA receives a contract to build the Hound Dog air-to-surface missile, designed for nuclear warhead delivery.  It moved from production contract to the USAF in only 30 months;

1952:    After a respite of almost a year, N. Korea, using small fabric-covered biplanes, hassles Cho-do and the Seoul area with “Bed Check Charlie” raids.