On This Day in History

1942:   Gen Henry H. Arnold establishes a new numbered Air Force, which later becomes Eighth Air Force. The Eighth sustains over 26,000 deaths in World War II, greater than the US Marines.

1929:   THE QUESTION MARK. Through 7 January, to test inflight refueling and crew and aircraft endurance, Maj Carl A. Spaatz and crew fly the Question Mark, a modified Fokker C2-3 with a Wright 220 HP

1908:   Wilbur Wright flies 77 miles in 2 hours 20 minutes 23 seconds at LeMans, France to set a record for duration and distance, winning the Michelin Trophy and $4,000.

  1944:   Gen Henry H. Arnold becomes General of the Army (5 stars), the first airman to hold this rank.

  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.