On This Day in History

1972: The Pioneer X Jupiter probe, launched from the Eastern Test Range by an Atlas-Centaur launch vehicle, reaches the highest launch velocity ever attained, 32,000 MPH relative to earth.

  1991: Through 30 June, 42 C-5 Galaxies and 3 C-141 Starlifters from the 60th Military Airlift Wing and 436th Military Airlift Wing move more than 1,000 tons of fire-fighting equipment and 100 fireman to

1974: The A-10A prototype fires its GAU-8/A gun for the first time during an inflight test at Edwards AFB.

1975: Brig Gen Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to exceed the speed of sound, flies his last Air Force sor­tie in an F-4 at Edwards AFB.

  (Wilbanks above, Levitow below) 1967 and 1969:      MEDAL OF HONOR. Two are awarded on this day in separate years. 1967: Capt Hilliard A. Wilbanks: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3443/wilbanks-hilliard-a.php A1C John L. Levitow: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3343/levitow-john-l.php

1952: By shooting down a MiG-15, Maj William T. Whisner, Jr., 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, achieves ace status.  

1967: Operation JUNCTION CITY. 23 USAF C-130s carry 700 troops from the 173d Airborne Brigade on the first parachute personnel drop in the Vietnam War. Heavy drops of equipment and supplies follow the personnel drop.

1977: An asst. Secretary of Defense stops the selection process on the Advanced Tanker/Cargo Aircraft pending reassessment. After consultation with the President Sec of Defense Harold Brown approves the acquisition of 12-20 ATCA aircraft, which

1943: The first class of 30 flight nurses graduates from the U. S. Army Air Forces School of Air Evacuation at Bowman Field, KY.

1913: The Army tests Lawrence Sperry’s Gyrostabilizer, or automatic pilot, for the first time.