Category AIRFORCE

1953

JANUARY 17—18 Over Pyongyang, North Korea, 11 B-29s bomb an underground radio station with special, 2,000-pound bombs. Accuracy is essential as the site is only 1,000 feet from a POW camp; 10 direct hits are scored but the ordnance fails to destroy the station.

JANUARY 23 In South Korea and Japan, the last remaining F-51 Mustangs are retired from combat operations and replaced by F-86 Sabrejets. This marks the end of propellor-driven fighter aircraft in the U. S. Air Force.

JANUARY 24 Over North Korea, sharp­shooting Captain Dolphin D. Overton II sets a record for becoming a fighter ace by downing five MiGs in only four days.

JANUARY 28 Over Sariwon, North Korea, a B-29 explodes over its target, being the fourth heavy bomber downed
since the previous December; it is also the last one lost during hostilities.

JANUARY 30 Over the Yellow Sea, an

F-86 observes a Soviet-built Tu-2 bomber and shoots it down; this is the first Communist bomber claimed since November 1951.

Boeing’s B-47E Stratojet performs its maiden flight; this is the first major pro­duction model, of which 1,300 are con­structed. A further 255 RB-47E reconnaissance aircraft are also acquired by the Air Force.

JANUARY 30—31 Over North Korea, a

B-29 of the 307th Bomb Wing is badly mauled by Communist MiGs and is forced to make an emergency landing in South Korea.

Подпись: McConnell, Joseph C. (1922-1954) Air Force pilot. Joseph Christopher McConnell was born in Dover, New Hampshire, on January 30, 1922, and he enlisted in the Army in 1940. Though he intended to be a pilot, he ended up as a navigator and flew 60 combat missions over Europe in B-24s assigned to the 448th Bomb Group. After World War II, McConnell remained determined to win his wings and, in 1948, he finally passed through flight school at Lackland and Randolph Fields, Texas. There he became one of the earliest jet pilots and qualified in Lockheed P-80 Shooting Stars. The onset of the Korean War in June 1950 resulted in the deployment of new F-86 Sabrejets there to counter Soviet MiG-15 fighters; McConnell immediately volunteered for service overseas, but was judged “too old” for combat. He nonetheless persisted and, in August 1952, he shipped to Korea with the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing. He flew constantly over the next 10 months, and on January 14, 1953, McConnell downed his first MiG. Within a month, McConnell had scored his fifth kill, but three victories later he was himself shot down and rescued. Returning to combat, he became a double ace and, on May 18,1953, he downed victims number 14 and 15, becoming a triple jet ace That same afternoon he ventured back to “MiG Alley” and bagged number 16, becoming the highest-scoring American jet ace. After the war, McConnell arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, California, to serve as a test pilot. On August 25, 1954, he died after his new F-86H stalled, and he ejected too close to the ground.

FEBRUARY 4 In Washington, D. C., Har­old E. Talbott gains appointment as secre­tary of the Air Force.

FEBRUARY 8 The American Medical Association finally recognizes aviation medicine as a medical specialty, the first to have evolved from strictly military practices.

February 14 The new Bell X-1A makes its first successful test glide; this variant is longer and has greater fuel capacity than the original X-1.

FEBRUARY 15 Over North Korea, 22 F-84s strike the Shi-ho hydroelectric power plant with 1,000-pound bombs while 82 F-86 escorts tangle with 30 MiG-15s. The facility is heavily damaged and offline for several months.

FEBRUARY 16 Over North Korea, Captain Joseph C. McConnell, Jr., bags his fifth MiG-15, becoming the latest all-jet ace.

FEBRUARY 18 Over the Sui-ho reser­voir, North Korea, 4 F-86 Sabrejets attack a formation of 48 MiG-15s, down­ing 2. Two other Communist craft enter uncontrolled spins and crash while turn­ing with the Americans. Captain Manuel J. Fernandez also becomes an ace by claiming his fifth and sixth MiGs.

FEBRUARY 18—19 Southwest of Pyong­yang, North Korea, 500 Air Force aircraft attack a Communist tank and infantry school, destroying 243 buildings in the process.

MARCH 5 Over North Korea, Fifth Air Force aircraft run 70 sorties, destroying 56 bunkers, gun positions, and various storage shacks. One flight of F-84s drops bombs on an industrial facility only 60 miles from the Siberian border.

MARCH 10 Near the border between West Germany and Czechoslovakia, two Communist MiG-15s attack two F-84

Thunderjets, downing one. The pilot ejects safely.

MARCH 14 Over North Korea, Air Force aircraft drop propaganda leaflets demand­ing to know where the Communist air force is after they bomb a target. It is hoped such taunting will provoke an aer­ial engagement.

MARCH 21—22 Over North Korea, Operation spring thaw unfolds as Fifth Air Force medium bombers knock down the two main bridges at Yongmi-dong and heavily damage a third.

MARCH 27 In a surprise move, two MiG-15s attack two RF-80 Shooting Stars and two Australian Meteors only 38 miles north of UN lines.

MARCH 31 In Korea, the final F-80C Shooting Star is retired from front-line service after a distinguished two-and-a – half years in combat.

April 12 Over the Red Sea, an H-19 helicopter rescues Captain Joseph C. McConnell after he and his eighth victory apparently downed each other.

April 7 In Washington, D. C., the Atomic Energy Commission declares that it employs Lockheed QF-80 drones to study radioactive clouds during atomic testing. These remote-controlled craft are flown directly into mushroom clouds under the direction of nearby aircraft.

April 13 Over South Korea, the F-86 Sabrejet performs its first close support ground sortie.

April 26—27 Over North Korea, Project MOOLA unfolds as B-29 bombers drop leaf­lets offering $100,000 to any Communist pilot who defects with his MiG-15.

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United States Air Force F-86 airplanes prepare for combat on the flight line in May 1953. (National Archives)

MAY 13 North of Pyongyang, North Korea, 50 F-84Gs, attacking in four waves, bomb several irrigation dams that had heretofore been off limits. The ensu­ing floodwaters destroy six square miles of rice crop, the Sunan airfield, and two miles of a nearby highway.

May 16 Over North Korea, 90 F-84Gs bomb the Chasan irrigation dam, and the floodwaters destroy three railroad bridges and several acres of rice crop.

May 18 Over Edwards Air Force Base, California, aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran flies a Canadair F-86E to a new world’s speed record of 652.3 miles per hour over a 100-kilometer course. This day she also becomes the first woman to exceed the speed of sound.

Over North Korea, Captain Joseph C. McConnell, Jr., bags 3 more MiG-15s, becoming the war’s first triple jet ace and, with 16 kills, also the highest-scoring UN pilot.

May 25 Over Edwards Air Force Base,

California, the North American YF-100 Super Sabre flies for the first time and easily exceeds the sound barrier. This is the first of 2,300 F-100s that pass into Air Force service.

May 27 In Washington, D. C., the Air Force Historical Foundation (AFHF) is established to preserve and perpetuate the history and heritage of U. S. aviation.

May 31 In Tokyo, Japan, command of

the Fifth Air Force passes to Lieutenant General Samuel E. Anderson.

June 8 At Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, F-84 Thunderjets of the 3600th Air Demonstration Team make its first unof­ficial public appearance in red, white, and blue painted aircraft. They become better known as the USAF Thunderbirds.

June 11 Along the Manchurian border, 13 F-84s commit the deepest penetration of Communist territory by bombing an enemy airfield. No opposition is encountered.

June 13-18 Over Toksan and Kusong, North Korea, Fifth Air Force F-84s and B-29s, assisted by Marine Corps F4U Corsairs, blast several irrigation dams to flood nearby airfields. However, the Communists anticipated the move, because they had lowered the water level beforehand, thereby decreasing the impact of the strikes.

June 15 In Tokyo, Japan, leadership of

Bomber Command passes to Brigadier General Richard H. Carmichael.

June 16 This day the Fifth Air Force completes 1,834 combat sorties, with half aimed at enemy troops contesting UN forces in the Pukhan Valley region.

June 18 Over Japan, a C-124 Globemas- ter II crashes after takeoff, killing all 129 passengers on board. For many years this was the worst aviation disaster on record.

June 21 Over Cheyenne, Wyoming, the Air Force Thunderbirds make their first official demonstration for the public.

June 30 In Washington, D. C., General Nathan F. Twining gains appointment as the new Air Force chief of staff.

Over North Korea, Fifth Air Force F-86 Sabrejets have a field day by downing 16 MiG-15s without loss, a new single-day record.

July 15 Over North Korea, Major James Jabara downs his 15th MiG, becoming the second triple jet ace in aviation history.

July 16 An F-86D piloted by Lieutenant William Barnes sets a new world speed record of 715.7 miles per hour. To do so he broke an earlier record established by another F-86D.

July 20 At Middle River, Maryland, the first Martin B-57A, the American-built version of the English Electric Canberra, performs its maiden flight. This is also the first foreign-designed aircraft accepted into the U. S. Air Force.

July 21—22 Over North Korea, 18 Bomber Command B-29s fly the final sortie for that type of airplane by bomb­ing the Uiju airfield.

July 22 Over North Korea, the final dog­fight of the Korean War unfolds as three F-86 Sabrejets tangle with four MiG-15s, whereby Lieutenant Sam P. Young makes the final MiG kill of the war.

July 27 Just hours before the armistice ends the Korean War, Captain Ralph S.

Parr, Jr., downs a Soviet-built IL-2 transport, becoming a double ace. This is also the final aerial victory of the Korean War.

Over North Korea, a B-26 drops its bombs during a radar-directed, close sup­port mission only 24 minutes before the armistice becomes official. Ironically, the squadron to which this aircraft belongs also flew the first bombing mission of the war in 1950.

Over North Korea, an RB-26 from the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing performs that last photo mission of the Korean War.

July 28 At Fairford, England, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-47 Stratojet completes a record-making flight from Limestone, Maine, by crossing the Atlan­tic in only 4 hours and 43 minutes at a speed of 618 miles per hour.

July 29 Off the coast of Vladivostok, Soviet Union, an RB-50 operating from Yokota, Japan, is attacked by MiG-15s and shot down; 16 men perish and only 1 survives.

This day the Far East Air Forces (FEAF) releases its official tally of wins and losses for the Korean War. They claim 839 MiG-15 jets shot down with 154 listed as probable, and a further 919 damaged. Over the past 37 months, the Air Force lost 110 aircraft to hostile air activity, 677 to ground fire, and 213 in various accidents. Since that time, the number of Communist aircraft claimed has been revised downwards to roughly half this total.

AUGUST 3 At Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Air Force Missile Test Center fires a Redstone missile for the first time.

AUGUST 12 In an ominous development, the Soviet Union detonates its first thermo­nuclear weapon.

AUGUST 20 In Western Europe, Operation longstride unfolds as F-84 Thunderjets of the 40th Air Division, Strategic Air Com­mand (SAC) deploy from the United States in the first mass deployment of fighter air­craft during a transatlantic flight. It is a vivid demonstration of SAC’s ability to shift men and resources to distant points, and wins the Mackay Trophy.

AUGUST 25 The Air Force reveals the exis­tence of its Fighter Conveyor (FICON) project, whereby a giant B-36 bomber has been modified to carry, launch, and re­cover an RF-84 in flight. However, the concept of a “flying aircraft carrier” does not catch on.

SEPTEMBER Aviation history is made this month when a B-47 Stratojet is refueled in midair by a KB-47B tanker aircraft. This represents the first time that one jet aircraft has passed fuel to another.

SEPTEMBER 11 Over China Lake, Cali­fornia, the new AIM-9 Sidewinder air – to-air missile destroys an airborne target for the first time. Updated versions of this weapon are still in production.

September 21 Over Kimpo Airfield, South Korea, a MiG-15 flown by Lieu­tenant Noh Kum Suk arrives as he defects to the West. He receives the $100,000 bounty and his aircraft is thoroughly tested and examined by Air Force author­ities before being put on display at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

OCTOBER This month the Air Defense Command is bolstered by the addition of 10 Lockheed RC-121 Super Constella­tions, which serve as early warning radar platforms.

OCTOBER 1 At McClellan Air Force Base, California, the 4701st Airborne

Early Warning and Control squadron is formally activated, being the first organi­zation of its kind in the Air Force.

October 14 The X-10 (B-64 Navaho prototype) is test launched for the first time. This impressively sleek missile is intended as a ground-to-ground weapon capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

October 23 The twin-rotor Piasecki YH-16 transport helicopter makes its maiden flight.

OCTOBER 24 Over Edwards Air Force Base, the delta-winged Convair XF-102 is flown for the first time. Overall perfor­mance is poor and it is not until a major redesign incorporating the use of “area rule” (a pinched-in fuselage) that it enters service as the F-102 Delta Dagger.

OCTOBER 29 Over the Salton Sea, Cali­fornia, the YF-100 prototype flown by Colonel Frank K. Everest sets a world speed record of 755.125 miles per hour over a nine-mile course.

OCTOBER 31 Trevor Gardner, special assistant to the secretary of the Air Force, is tasked with forming the new Strategic Missile Evaluation Committee under mathematician John von Neu­mann.

NOVEMBER 6 At RAF Brize Norton, England, a B-47 Stratojet makes a new transatlantic speed record by flying in from Limestone Air Force Base, Maine, in 4 hours and 57 minutes.

NOVEMBER 20 Over Edwards Air Force Base, California, A. Scott Crossfield flies the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket to twice the speed of sound. This represents the first time such stellar velocity has been reached.

DECEMBER 12 Over Edwards Air Force Base, the Bell X-1A flown by Major Charles E. Yeager reaches a speed of 1,650 miles per hour at an altitude of

70,000 feet. Yeager loses control of his aircraft and spirals down to 25,000 feet before righting it and making a safe landing. He wins the Harmon Trophy for his effort.

1970

January 16 At Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, the last few remaining B-58 Hustlers still in Air Force inventory are flown to their final resting place at the “bone yard,” Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

February 17 In northern Laos, B-52 bombers drop bombs on Com­munist targets for the final time. These actions are not made public until March 6.

February 18 The HL-10 experimental lifting body piloted by Major Peter C. Hoag reaches Mach 1.86 at 65,000 feet. This is an unpowered glide test.

FEBRUARY 27 In Washington, D. C., the Defense Department selects Pratt and Whitney to build a new gener­ation jet engine to power the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and the Grum – man F-14 Tomcat then under develop­ment.

MARCH 15 A new telephone network called the “AUTOVON” is completed; this device is an automatic voice network linking all U. S. military bases.

MARCH 18 Over Cambodia, B-52s begin pounding suspected Communist posi­tions as U. S. forces also make a limited incursion into the border region. The aerial blitz lasts two months, involves 4,300 sorties, and drops over 120,000 tons of bombs.

April 11—17 The crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft makes a heroic return to Earth after being damaged while coasting to the moon; among the three-man crew is John L. Swigert, Jr., a former Air Force officer.

April 14 At Hill Air Force Base, Utah, a C-141 Starlifter transports a Minuteman III missile to Minot AFB, North Dakota. This is also the first operational example of the new variant.

April 17 At Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, the first Minuteman III missile is handed off to the 741st Strategic Missile Squadron and declared opera­tional.

May 4 At Kent, Ohio, rioting students are fired upon by the Ohio National Guard; four students are killed.

May 5 Across the nation, the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) is opened to women for the first time.

May 8 Over Southeast Asia, an AC-119K Shadow gunship under Captain Alan D. Milacek loses 15 feet of the left wing to ground fire as it att­acks heavily defended truck convoys along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The air­crew successfully struggle to bring their plane back to base, winning a Mackay Trophy.

June 2 In Peru, a disastrous earthquake compels the Air Force Southern Com­mand to begin a major aerial relief effort. This entails delivering 750 tins of supplies and 3,000 medical personnel, and the evacuation of500 patients.

June 6 The first Lockheed C-51 Galaxy is delivered to the Military Airlift Com­mand (MAC); this is the world’s largest aircraft at the time.

July 31 At Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, the first class of South Viet­namese pilots graduates as part of the Vietnamization program.

August 24 At Da Nang Airport, South Vietnam, 2 HH-53 Sea Stallions arrive on the first nonstop transpacific helicopter crossing; they departed from Elgin Air Force Base, Florida.

SEPTEMBER 1 In South Vietnam, General Lucius D. Clay, Jr., gains appointment as commander of the Seventh Air Force.

SEPTEMBER 6 At Incirlik, Turkey, Oper­ation flat pass unfolds as USAFE deploys C-130s and F-4 Phantoms for the pos­sible rescue of passengers from three air­liners hijacked by Palestinian militants. The hostages are eventually released, but the three aircraft are blown up.

September 28-October 31 In

Jordan, Operation fig hill commences as Air Force transports deliver 180 tons of supplies and equipment, along with Army and Air Force medical perso­nnel to that beleaguered kingdom as it battles an uprising by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

OCTOBER 3 At Hurlburt Field, Florida, the Special Operations Center receives the first 2 Bell UH-1N Twin Hueys, the first of 79 such machines acquired. This is also the first Air Force unit to operate this twin-engined machine.

NOVEMBER 21 In North Vietnam, the American raid of Son Tay Prison com­mences with Air Force helicopters delivering Army Colonel Arthur D. “Bull” Simons to the camp. They are escorted by C-130E Combat Talon aircraft to recover the released priso­ners. However, these had been relo­cated to another location previously and the raiders return empty-handed. The raid was also covered by F-4 Phan­toms while F-105s flew diversionary raids elsewhere.

1986

January 8 At Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, the Military Airlift Command (MAC) receives the first improved C-5B Galaxy transport aircraft.

At Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, the first overseas meteorological data system circuit is installed by the Air Force to replace the obsolete weather teletype sys­tem already in place.

January 28 At Cape Canaveral, Florida, tragedy strikes when the space shuttle

Challenger explodes after liftoff. Among those killed are Air Force pilots Francis R. Scobee, Gregory B. Jarvis, Ellison S. Onizuka.

FEBRUARY 18—22 In Northern Califor­

nia, Air Force H-3s, HH-53s, and C – 130s of the 49th and 129th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Groups evacuate 500 civilians from along the Russian and Yuba Rivers after they were stranded by severe flooding. Three thousand sandbags are also delivered to Army troops on the ground.

FEBRUARY 25—26 In the Philippines, five H-3 Jolly Green Giant helicopters from the 31st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS) convey President Ferdinand Marcos and 51 peo­ple from his palace to Clark Air Base for ultimate removal to Hawaii.

MARCH 3 At Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, the reconnaissance Cessna O-2 aircraft is replaced by the OT-38 Talon.

MARCH 4 In Egypt, operation bright STAR unfolds as aircraft from the United States and Egypt conduct their first joint exercise; this also marks the first time that foreign aircraft are refueled by Air Force tankers.

MARCH 5 Once over the Atlantic, a KC – 10 aircraft, piloted by Captain Marc C. Felman, refuels another KC-10 and three Navy A-4 Skyhawks that were nearly our of fuel. For relieving this emergency sit­uation by launched in zero visibility weather; Felman and his crew win a Mackay Trophy.

In Pakistan, the Air Force beings trans­porting Afghan refugees and patients to the United States in accordance with the 1986 McCollum Amendment. Afghani­stan is then in the throes of a violent Soviet occupation.

MARCH 25 At Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, the first all-woman Minuteman missile crew, belonging to the 351st Strategic Missile Wing, is placed on active alert.

April 5—6 At Osan Air Base, South Korea, a large jet fuel tank fire results in four C-141 Starlifters and one H-3 Jolly Green Giant helicopter from the 63rd

Airlift Wing transporting fire-suppressant foam; burn victims are also conveyed to medical facilities in Seoul for treatment.

APRIL 14—15 Over Libya, Operation el dorado canyon unfolds as 24 F-111F bombers from the Statue of Liberty Squadron, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, launch from Great Britain and perform a retaliatory strike against Tripoli, Libya. Lacking overflight permission from Spain and France, they fly a 5,500-mile round trip around Continental Europe, and inflict heavy damage on the Jamahiriya Military Barracks and Benina Military Airfield. They are also carrier aircraft launched from the America and Saratoga; one F-111 is lost in action. Equally significant, 28 KC-10 Extenders and KC-135 Stratotankers are employed during the attack, and they refuel the strike force six times in complete radio silence.

April 18 At Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, a Titan IIID rocket booster explodes after launching; Space Launch Complex Four sustains damage and can­not operate again until August 15.

April 28—May 7 The Air Weather Ser­vice launches several WC-130s to track and analyze the radioactive fallout in the wake of a nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl, Soviet Union.

June 17 The last remaining UC-133K Provider is retired from spraying activities by the Air Force.

July The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard receive their first C-141 Starlifter transports.

July 19 The United States Air Force in Europe (USAFE) declares Rapier surface-to-air missile units operational.

July 19-28 Operation SOUTHERN HAYLIFT unfolds once severe drought conditions across the southwestern United States result in 24 C-141s and 8 C-130s carrying

19,0 bales (536 tons) of hay to livestock farmers in afflicted areas.

July 27 At Rhein-Main Air Base, West Germany, an Air Force C-9 Nightingale transports Father Lawrence Jenco, recently released by Muslim extremists, to medical facilities.

AUGUST 27-29 In Cameroon, West Africa, a C-130 Hercules is dispatched from 50th Tactical Airlift Squadron with 250 tents for villagers fleeing volcanic fumes escaping from Lake Nyos.

SEPTEMBER 1 At Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, the last operational Cessna O-2 Bird Dog arrives for disposal in the “bone yard.”

SEPTEMBER 5 In Frankfurt, West Ger­many, a C-141 Starflifter transports Americans injured during a hijacking attempt to medical facilities. The flight originates in Karachi, Pakistan.

September 18-20 At Luzon, Philip­pines, two C-5 Galaxies are dispatched by the 436th Military Airlift Wing with 93 tons of food and medical supplies as per the Foreign Assistance Act of 1985.

October 10 The new LGM-118A (MX), or Peacekeeper, intercontinental ballistic missile achieves operational status for the first time. This weapon is capable of attacking up to 10 different targets with its multiple independent reentry vehicle (MIRV) warhead.

October 11-16 After San Salvador, El Salvador, is destroyed by an earthquake,

Air Force transports begin delivering food and relief supplies to survivors.

December 7 A WC-130 Hercules of the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron lands on Saipan, Mariana Islands, in the wake of Typhoon Kim, and delivers seven tons of relief supplies, food, and toys for children.

December 10 Air Force helicopters res­cue 19 members of the Norwegian research ship Geco Alpha several miles off the coast ofDestin, Florida, after it caught fire; casualties are subsequently flown to Eglin Air Force base for medical treat­ment.

December 14-23 From Edwards Air

Force Base, California, the experimental Voyager aircraft, piloted by Richard G. Rutan and Jeana L. Yeager, flies

25,0 miles, nonstop and unrefueled, around the world; they win a Collier Trophy for this record, nine-day venture.

December 18 In the South China Sea, the 31st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS) dispatches two H-3 Jolly Green Giant helicopters that rescue 13 survivors from a sinking Filipino ves­sel. The injured are then delivered to medical facilities at Cubi Air Station, Philippines.

December 22 At F. E. Warren Air Base, Wyoming, a tenth Peacekeeper intercon­tinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is deployed, leading to all weapons being placed on operational status.

DECEMBER 31 In San Juan, Puerto Rico, 75 people stranded on the roof of the Dupont Plaza Hotel during a fire are res­cued by H-3 Sea King helicopters of Composite Squadron 8 (VC-8).

2004

FEBRUARY Over Edwards Air Force Base, California, an F/A-22 aircraft undergoes an icing test at altitude by being sprayed with water from a modified KC-135 tanker.

FEBRUARY 14 At Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, F-15 fighters and 150 ground support crews transfer to Gwalior Air Force Station, India, to train with the Indian Air Force. This constitutes the first joint venture between the two services since the 1960s.

June 23 At Cape Canaveral, a three-stage Delta II launch vehicle hurls a replacement

satellite into orbit as part of the Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS).

July 23 In the Caribbean, a HC-130 from the 38th Rescue Squadron airdrops two pararescue men into the water. These deploy a rubber boat and paddle to a Chinese fishing vessel to assist a crew­man who had a life-threatening chest injury.

September 4—8 Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, is struck by a hurricane, and members of the 45th Space Wing response team are called in to survey the damage.

SEPTEMBER 14 Over Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, an F-16 suddenly bursts into flame during a Thunderbird exhibition, and the pilot is forced to eject. None of the 60,000 spectators are hurt.

September 15 In Washington, D. C., ground-breaking ceremonies unfold for the site of the new Air Force Memorial, located near the Potomac River, and directly across from the Pentagon.

DECEMBER 3 Over Edwards Air Force Base, California, the Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft goes airborne for the first time with an integrated battle manage­ment and Beam Control/Fire Control (BC/FC) systems onboard.

December 12 At Edwards Air Force Base, California, the Airborne Laser (ABL) team concludes a successful round oftests with its high-energy beam weapon.

1954

FEBRUARY 10 The Air Force Strategic Missile Evaluation Committee announces a major breakthrough in the size and weight of nuclear warheads. It therefore recommends that a special group be tasked to help accelerate the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

MARCH 1 In the Marshall Islands, a 15- megaton bomb is tested by the United States for the first time. This device is a thousand times more powerful than the atomic bombs utilized during World War II.

MARCH 5 Over Edwards Air Force Base, California, the Lockheed XF-104 proto­type performs its maiden flight. It sub­sequently enters service as the F-104 Starfighter.

April 1 In Washington, D. C., President

Dwight D. Eisenhower signs legislation creating the U. S. Air Force Academy. In lieu of a permanent campus, the first classes will be conducted at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado.

The first Convair C-131A transports, the military version of the Model 240 Airliner, is accepted into the Air Force inventory.

April 8 In Washington, D. C., the Air

Force Assistant Chief of Staff for Guided Missiles is created at the Pentagon.

June 18 The Martin B-57B Canberra flies for the first time. This model is specifically designed for ground interdic­tion purposes.

June 4 Over California, a Bell X-1A research aircraft piloted by Major Arthur Murray sets a world altitude record of 90,000 feet.

June 21 At Yokota Air Base, Japan, three 22nd Bombardment Wing B-47 Strato – jets commanded by Major General Wal­ter C. Sweeney, Jr., make a 6,700-mile nonstop flight from March Air Force Base, California, in only 15 hours. The flight requires two in-flight refuelings from KC-97 tankers.

June 26—July 17 In Indochina (Vietnam) Operation wounded warrior unfolds as transports of the 315th Air Division, Military Air Transport Service (MATS), evacuate 500 injured French soldiers back to France, via Japan.

June 28 The Douglas RB-66 prototype reconnaissance aircraft flies for the first time.

July 1 The Western Development Division is established under Brigadier General Bernard A. Schriever. It is tasked with developing the Air Force intercontinental ballistic missile system, particularly as it relates to the ongoing Atlas program.

July 15 In Seattle, Washington, the Boe­ing KC-135, which is based on the

Подпись: Davis, Benjamin O., Jr. (1912-2002) Air Force General. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., was born in Washington, D.C., on December 18, 1912, the son of an Army lieutenant destined to become that service's first African American general. Davis entered West Point in 1932 and, despite four years of racism, graduated 35th in a class of 275. He had expressed interest in flying but, because the Army Air Corps was segregated, Davis taught military science at the all-black Tuskegee Institute. However, American entry into World War II forced the Army Air Forces to recruit black pilots, and in March 1942, Davis received his wings and command of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, the first such formation composed entirely of African Americans. He led it to distinction in North Africa in 1943, and the following spring he assumed command of the all-black 322nd Fighter Group. Davis received a Silver Star for his harrowing actions over southern Germany, and after the war he commanded the 477th Composite Group at Godman Field, Kentucky. In 1947, President Harry S. Truman ordered the American military desegregated, and Davis accepted command of Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, in a pioneer integration program. During the Korean War he served as deputy of operations in the Fighter Branch, and in 1954 he made history by becoming the Air Force's first African American brigadier general. Four years later Davis rose to major general commanding the 12th Air Force in Europe, and also became the first black lieutenant general in 1965. He retired in 1970 after 35 years of active duty, and on December 9, 1998, he was elevated to four-star general on the retired list. Davis died in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2002.

Model 707 airliner, makes its maiden flight. This aircraft enters service as the KC-135 Stratotanker, and serves as an essential component of the Strategic Air Command (SAC).

July 26 The distinction of serving as the first superintendent of the Air Force Academy goes to Lieutenant General Hubert R. Harmon.

AUGUST 5 The first production B-52 Stratofortress rolls off the assembly line. This eight-jet behemoth becomes the backbone of the Strategic Air Command for a decade and is still employed in front-line service to the present.

AUGUST 6—7 This day a pair of 308th Bombardment Wing B-47s flies nonstop from Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia, to French Morocco, and back. Concur­rently, the 38th Air Division contributes two B-47s which also depart Hunter AFB on a simulated bomb run over

French Morocco. Both units conse­quently win the Mackay Trophy.

AUGUST 23 The Lockheed YC-130 turboprop-powered transport prototype flies for the first time. This enters service as the C-130 Hercules, which remains in front-line service over half-a-century later.

AUGUST 26 Over Edwards Air Force Base, California, a Bell X-1A piloted by Major Arthur Murray reaches a record altitude of 90,440 feet, where the curva­ture of the Earth can be clearly observed.

September 1 At Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Continental Air Defense Command establishes its headquarters under General Benjamin W. Chidlaw.

The Fairchild C-123B Provider prototype performs its maiden flight. This aircraft will see extensive service throughout the Vietnam War, a decade hence.

September 27 At George Air Force Base, California, the F-100A Super Sabre jet fighter is declared operational.

September 29 The McDonnell F-101A Voodoo all-weather interceptor flies for the first time. This is an outgrowth of the earlier XF-88. It serves with distinc­tion throughout the Vietnam War as a reconnaissance platform.

OCTOBER 8 Over Edwards Air Force Base, California, the Bell X-1B rocket research aircraft flies for the first time with Major Arthur Murray at the controls.

OCTOBER 9 In Washington, D. C., the Department ofDefense adds an additional $500 million to this year’s guided missile budget in an attempt to accelerate devel­opment of the Atlas ICBM.

OCTOBER 12 Over Wichita, Kansas, the Cessna XT-37 jet trainer flies for the first time. This unique, side-by-side aircraft also serves with distinction as a light attack bomber during the Vietnam War.

OCTOBER 18—19 Distinguished scientist Theodore von Karman convenes the ad hoc committee of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board for the purpose of con­sidering nuclear power as a source ofmis – sile propulsion. They ultimately recommend that the issue remain closely studied to maintain cogency in this field.

OCTOBER 27 Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, son of the Army’s first African American general, becomes the first minority brigadier general in Air Force history.

November 1 The venerable Boeing B – 29 Superfortress, the aircraft that helped to end World War II, is finally retired from active service.

November 2 At San Diego, California, the Convair XFY-1 Pogo, a vertical lift­off fighter, performs its maiden flight from Lindbergh Field. After rising from the ground like a helicopter, it transitions to horizontal flight and then lands verti­cally. This spectacular vehicle does not enter into production.

November 7 Off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan, an RB-29 reconnaissance aircraft is attacked by Soviet MiG-15s and shot down.

November 17-19 A B-47 Stratojet flown by Colonel David A. Burchinal is forced by bad weather to remain aloft over England and France for 47 hours and 35 minutes. He is forced to refuel in the air nine times while waiting for clear weather to land.

December 7 At Edwards Air Force Base, California, a fully automated approach and landing system successfully brings an X-10 Navajo missile back to base.

DECEMBER 10 Aviation medicine research Colonel John P. Strapp endures a rocket-sled test that accelerates him to 630 miles per hour, which is the same as ejecting from an aircraft at Mach 1.7. That he emerges unhurt demonstrates the resiliency of the human body.

December 20 The revamped F-102A, now endowed with a “wasp waist” as per the new “area rule,” is successfully tested for the first time. It enters service as the Delta Dagger, becoming the first Air Force jet armed solely with guided missiles.

DECEMBER 23 The Air Force, the Navy, and NACA sign a joint memoranda to begin shared development of a hyper­sonic research aircraft, which emerges as the X-15.

. 1971

JANUARY 28 Over South Vietnam, the final ranch hand defoliating mission is conducted by Fairchild UC-123B sprayer aircraft.

January 31-February 9 The Apollo 14 expedition arrives at the moon and safely returns. Air Force astronaut Stuart A. Roosa pilots the Command Module that remains in orbit.

MARCH 17 At Auburn University, Ala­bama, 2nd Lieutenant Jane Leslie Holley is the first woman to be commissioned through an Air Force ROTC program.

April 26 An SR-71 Blackbird piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas B. Estes and Lieutenant Colonel Dewain C. Vick sets a speed record for covering 15,000 miles in 10 hours and 30 minutes, nonstop; the flight wins a Mackay Trophy along with the Harmon International Aviator Award.

July 16 In Washington, D. C., Colonel Jeanne M. Holm is promoted to brigadier general, becoming the first female general in the Air Force. She remains as director of Women in the Air Force.

June 16-July 18 Over India, Operation bonny jack unfolds as Air Force C-130s and C-141s transfer 23,000 refugees from East Pakistan (Bangladesh) during a civil war there. A further 2,000 tons of relief supplies are also delivered.

June 26 At Phang Rang Air Base, South Vietnam, F-100 Super Sabres of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing are relieved of front-line service as the unit redeploys back to the United States.

July 12 In Washington, D. C., retired general Benjamin O. Davis, the Air Force’s first African American senior offi­cer, is appointed Assistant Secretary of Transportation by President Richard Nixon.

July 26-AUGUST 7 At Cape Kennedy, Florida, an all-Air Force crew pilots Apollo 15 to the moon and back; this is the first mission to include a lunar rover.

July 29 The Air Force concludes research on the X-24A lifting body, information from which proved instru­mental in the space shuttle program.

AUGUST 1 In South Vietnam, General John D. Lavelle gains appointment as the new commander ofthe Seventh Air Force.

SEPTEMBER 21 Over North Vietnam, 200 Air Force fighter-bombers conduct the first all-instrument bombardment of the war by employing loran (Long Range Air to Navigation) to destroy the fuel and storage area at Dong Hoi, burning 350,000 gallons of fuel.

OCTOBER 1 In Washington, D. C., Richard D. Kisling is appointed the new chief master sergeant of the Air Force.

NOVEMBER 7-8 Over North Vietnam, Air Force fighter-bombers strike Com­munist airfields at Dong Hoi, Vinh, and Quan Lang.

DECEMBER 26-30 Over North Vietnam, Air Force aircraft launch over 1,000 sor­ties against targets south ofthe 20th paral­lel. This is the largest raid of its kind since 1968.

. 1987

JANUARY 16 Over the Tonopah Test Range, Nevada, a short-range attack mis­sile (SRAM) is fired for the first time by a B-1B Lancer.

FEBRUARY 3 At Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, the first Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters are delivered to the 55th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. The Pace Low III infrared sys­tem is retrofitted to them to facilitate long-range search and rescue missions.

FEBRUARY 13—15 On Vanuatu, New Hebrides, survivors of Typhoon Uma are assisted by two C-141 Starlifters and two C-130 Hercules, which transport 64 tons of tents and plastic sheeting for them.

FEBRUARY 16 In San Antonio, Texas, the Joint Military Medical Command, staffed by both Army and Air Force per­sonnel, is activated.

April 14 From Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, a B-1B Lancer flies 9,400 miles in 21 hours and 40 minutes, while utilizing five in-flight refuelings. This is the lon­gest flight to date by a bomber of this

type.

May 5 At Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, the Air Force retires the last liquid-fueled Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from active ser­vice. This is the largest ballistic missile fielded by the United States during the Cold War.

May 6 At Sembach Air Base, West Ger­many, the 43rd Electronics Combat Squadron receives the first EC-130H Compass Call aircraft.

JUNE 1 The Special Operations Com­mand is established by the Air Force.

June 10 At the Paris Air Show, France, the B1-B Lancer makes its first European debut.

July 4-September 17 A Rockwell B-1B Lancer piloted by Lieutenant Robert Chamberlain establishes 12 new world records for speed and payload. Another Lancer flown by Major Brent A. Hedgpeth sets an additional 9 speed records. For their efforts, the B-1B Sys­tem Program Office, Air Force Systems Command, wins the Mackay Trophy.

July 17 At Hurlburt Field, Florida, the Air Force Logistics Command delivers the first Sikorsky MH-53J Pave Low heli­copter, and it begins operational service within a year. This machine is outfitted for poor weather/nighttime operations and is associated with Special Forces.

July 22—December 21 In the Persian Gulf, Operation earnest will unfolds as Air Force E-3A Sentry aircraft begin rou­tine patrols once the Iran-Iraq War begins spilling over into other countries. More­over, C-5A Galaxy and C-141 Starlifter transports convey mine-sweeping equip­ment to the region, while Air Force tank­ers assist Navy aircraft patrolling the gulf waters.

August 31-September 9 C-130 and

C-141 aircraft deliver 2,511 tons of fire retardant across the coastal regions of Oregon and Northern California, to com­bat a fire consuming 970 square miles.

September 17 A Rockwell B-1B Lancer piloted by Major Brent A. Hedgpeth sets

9 new world records during a five-hour sortie by carrying 66,140 pounds for 3,107 miles and at 655 miles per hour.

SEPTEMBER 24 Over Beijing, China, the Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadron entertains a crowd of 20,000 onlookers.

September 28 A severe bird strike brings down the first B-1B during a training mission. The cost to the taxpayers is $100 million.

OCTOBER 1 At Onizuka Air Force Sta­tion, California, the Space Command takes command of the Air Force Satellite Control Network, a set of worldwide remote-tracking stations.

At Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and Clark Air Base, Philippines, the Pacific Air Forces retire their T-33 jet trainers after 32 years of distinguished ser­vice.

NOVEMBER 19 In California, the North-

rop Corporation contracts with the Air Force to design and construct the next generation of stealth aircraft, the B-2. While invisible to radar, projected costs per bomber are $1 billion, making them the most expensive aircraft ever built.

November 24 An air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) is successfully deployed by a B-1B Lancer for the first time.

December 5 Six C-130 Hercules trans­ports from the 374th Tactical Airlift Squadron arrive in Luzon, Philippines, bringing in 34 tons of supplies, clothing, and rice to assist the victims of Typhoon Nina.

2005

January 3—8 In Sri Lanka, a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft delivers a pair of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters follow­ing a destructive tsunami. C-130s also arrive from Japan to convey 145 tons of relief supplies.

MAY 12 At Langley Air Force Base, Vir­ginia, the first operational F-22A Raptor deploys with the 27th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Wing. This is the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world, and incorporates such novel technologies as stealth and “supercruise.”

MARCH 1 The Air Force declares the

MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operational.

MAY 13 Over Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, massed C-17 Globemaster IIIs deploy to Biggs Army Airfield, Texas;

this is also the largest C-17 formation to fly cross-country.

June 16 Captain Nicole Malachowski

joins the Thunderbirds aerobatic team as the first female demonstration pilot ofany U. S. military high-performance jet team.

June 22 Over Southwest Asia, a U-2 aircraft from the 9th Reconnaissance Squadron experiences a catastrophic fail­ure in midair, and crashes; the pilot is killed.

July 29 In Rwanda, Air Force transports redeploy 1,200 soldiers to Sudan on yet the latest UN peacekeeping missions.

AUGUST 23—29 As Hurricane Katrina ravages the Gulf of Mexico, several Air Force bases in its path are evacuated in advance.

Подпись: 2005 Подпись: 325
Подпись: Two F-22A Raptors from the 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia fly information. This is presently the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft, and it combines high performance with advanced avionics and stealth capabilities. (U.S. Department ofDefense Visual Information Center)

September 2 In Washington, D. C., General T. Michael Moseley gains appointment as chief of staff, U. S. Air Force.

September 10 Over Afghanistan, an all­female crew flies their first C-130 combat mission.

September 24 Near Houston, Texas, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) begins flying new GA-8 Airvan aircraft to assess dam­age in the wake of Hurricane Rita.

OCTOBER 15—18 From Langley Air Force Base, Virginia the 27th Fighter Squadron flies its F-22A Raptors to as part of Operation combat hammer at Hill Air Force Base, Utah,. There they drop their first JDAMs on a target range.

September 2 In Washington, D. C., Michael W. Wynne gains appointment as secretary of the Air Force.

NOVEMBER 5 At Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, the first TH-1H Huey train­ing helicopters are deployed.

November-January 2006 At Camp Lemonier, Africa, Air Force C-130s support military exercises as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

December 7 In a sign of the times, the new Air Force mission statement includes cyberspace to the existing combat domains of air and space.

December 15 The F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter is declared operational.

1955

FEBRUARY 26 Off the coast of Califor­nia, test pilot George Smith is forced to eject from his F-100 Super Sabre at a speed of Mach 1.7. He is knocked uncon­scious by the blast of 64 g’s while exiting the aircraft, but is safely conveyed to the water by his shredded parachute. Smith is the first man to survive a supersonic ejection.

MARCH 1 At Otis Air Force Base, Maine,

the first operational Lockheed RC-121D airborne early warning platforms begin patrolling the East Coast of the United States.

In Washington, D. C., Trevor Gardner gains appointment as the first secretary of the Air Force for Research and Develop­ment.

MARCH 2 The Boeing Model 367-80 (KC-135) successfully demonstrates its new in-flight refueling system, which departs from the probe-and-drogue sys­tem pioneered by the British.

MARCH 6 In Washington, D. C., Air Force Chief of Staff General Nathan F. Twining announces that the Atlas, Nav – aho, and Snark programs will be acceler­ated in light of recent Soviet advances in missile technology.

April 6 Above Yucca Flat, Nevada, a B-36 bomber releases a nuclear-tipped missile at 42,000 feet, which then climbs six miles before detonating.

April 21 The Air Force launches its first

Aerobee-Hi sounding rocket, which reaches upwards for 123 miles while car­rying a 200-pound payload.

May 2 In Washington, D. C., the Depart­ment of the Air Force gives its nod towards the Western Development Division’s suggestion to construct a sec­ond, more capable type of intercontinen­tal ballistic missile, which emerges as the Titan.

May 10 The Air Force accepts the last of 448 Douglas C-124 Globemaster II trans­ports into active service. This capable craft was known as “Old Shaky” to those who flew it.

Over Schenectady, New York, an experimental GE XJ-79 turbojet engine is test flown in the belly of a RB-45C air­craft. The J-79 engine goes on to power an entire generation of Air Force fighters and bombers.

May 15 The governments of the United States and Canada agree on the details of a major construction project to build the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line. This consists of a series of radar sites across the northern hemisphere that will detect any incoming Soviet bomber aircraft.

June 11 At Wright-Patterson Air Force

Base, Ohio, an experimental F-80C fighter partially constructed of magne­sium alloys is used to test the strength and weight of new aviation alloys.

The first Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile is test fired for the first time. This liquid-fueled weapon is capable of accu­rately hitting a target several thousand miles away with a nuclear warhead.

June 29 At Castle Air Force Base, Cali­fornia, the 93rd Bombardment Wing accepts delivery of the first production B – 52 Stratofortress.

July 1 Dr. S. J. Gerathewohl is tasked by the Air Force with directing a research program on weightlessness. He initiates airborne parabolic flight profiles that tem­porarily induce zero-gravity conditions while descending.

July 11 At Lowry Air Force Base, Colo­

rado, the first class of the U. S. Air Force Academy, consisting of 306 students, gathers for initial instruction.

July 20 The NB-36H Peacemaker research aircraft goes aloft for the first time, but the nuclear reactor it carries remains inactivated.

AUGUST 1 Lockheed F-80s and T-33s conduct the first zero-gravity research flight involving parabolic flight profiles.

AUGUST 4 At Groom Lake, central Nevada, the top secret Lockheed U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft flies for the first time.

In China, the Communist government releases the crew of the B-29 Stardust 40; they had been held in captivity since being shot down over North Korea on January 13, 1953. They have been held prisoner longer than any other captives from this conflict.

AUGUST 8 Over California, a Bell X-1A explodes prior to being dropped by a B-29 mother ship; pilot Joseph A. Walker manages to escape the crippled craft, which is then released from the bomb bay.

AUGUST 20 Over the Mojave Desert, California, an F-100 Super Sabre piloted by Colonel Horace A. Hanes, who is also the director of the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, set a world speed record of 822.1 miles per hour at high altitude. He consequently wins the Mackay Trophy.

OCTOBER 5 Boeing contracts with the Air Force to construct an initial batch of 29 KC-135 tanker aircraft, although over 700 will ultimately be acquired.

OCTOBER 20 At Biggs Air Force Base, Texas, the last Boeing B-50 Superfortress is finally retired from the 97th Bombard­ment Wing.

October 22 The Republic XF-105 prototype flies for the first time and breaks the sound barrier during its maiden flight. It enters service as the F-105 Thunderchief and serves with distinction throughout the Vietnam War.

November 8—14 Because President Dwight D. Eisenhower has pronounced the acquisition ofICBMs and IRBMs as the nation’s highest priority, the Air Force proffers streamlined procedures for their development and adoption.

November 18 Over California, the Bell X-2 research plane drops from an EB – 50A mothership with Lieutenant Colonel Frank Everest at the controls. On this ini­tial flight it reaches Mach 0.95, or 627 miles per hour.

December 10 The Ryan X-13 Vertijet makes its maiden flight. While designed for vertical lift-off, it is fitted with conventional landing gear for its initial foray and makes a conventional flight profile.

1972

JANUARY 5 In Washington, D. C., President Richard M. Nixon declares that $5.5 billion has been budgeted for the new space shuttle program.

FEBRUARY 17 At Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, a VC-137 Stratoliner from the 89th Military Airlift Wing con­veys President Richard M. Nixon on his historic mission to Beijing, China.

February 20 In Illinois, an HC-130H Hercules sets a new world record by fly­ing in from Taiwan during a nonstop, unrefueled flight.

MARCH 30 In Washington, D. C., the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) authorizes 1,800 B-52 sorties throughout Southeast Asia. This total is up 600 sorties from a previous directive issued on February 8.

The massive Communist “Easter Offensive” erupts across South Vietnam as 40,000 North Vietnamese troops, backed by 400 tanks, attacks through the Central Highlands. They are largely halted by Air Force and Navy aircraft.

April 6 In light of the Communist offen­sive in South Vietnam, Air Force and Navy aircraft resume their bombardment of North Vietnam for the first time since 1968.

April 7 In South Vietnam, General John W. Vogt, Jr., gains appointment as head of the Seventh Air Force.

April 7—May 13 In South Vietnam, Operation constant guard unfolds as 200 Air Force aircraft, stationed stateside, arrive to help contain the Communist Easter Offensive.

April 16—27 Apollo 16 becomes the fifth successful lunar expedition as Air Force astronaut Charles Duke, Jr., and Navy astronaut John Young re­main a record 71 hours on the moon’s surface.

April 27 Over North Vietnam, Air Force warplanes use 2,000-pound laser – guided Paveway I “smart bombs” against the Thanh Hoa Bridge, dropping several spans. Previously, 850 conventional attacks failed to seriously damage this structure.

MAY 5 The new Pave PAWS system becomes operational, being specifically design to detect incoming, sea-launched ballistic missiles.

MAY 10-October 23 The Fairchild YA-10 prototype, conceived as a heavily armed and armored close support aircraft, flies for the first time; in January 1973 it enters production as the A-10 Thunder­bolt II.

Over North Vietnam, Operation free­dom train commences as the Air Force resumes full-scale aerial attacks against military and economic targets. Early on, the name is changed to Operation line­backer i. At one point in the campaign, F-4 Phantoms from the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing knock out Hanoi’s Paul Doumer Bridge with precision-guided bombs.

May 13 Over North Vietnam, 14 F-4 Phantoms drop laser-guided and conven­tional ordnance against the Thanh Hoa Bridge, dropping several spans and ren­dering it useless for rail traffic for several months.

JUNE 11 Over Hanoi, North Vietnam, laser-guided bombs dropped by B-52s destroy a major hydroelectric plant.

JUNE 29 In Quang Tri Province, an A-10 Bronco piloted by Captain Steve L. Bennett, 20th Tactical Air Support Squad­ron, attacks enemy units preparing to ambush friendly forces, despite the fact that no other air support is available. After his plane is shot, Bennett orders his observer to bail out, but he dies in an attempt to ditch in some nearby water; he receives a post­humous Congressional Medal of Honor.

July 26 Rockwell International is declared to be the prime contractor to build a fleet of space shuttles for NASA.

July 27 The McDonnell Douglas YF – 15A air superiority fighter performs its maiden flight; it enters production as the F-15 Eagle.

August 11 The Northrop F-5E Tiger II prototype is flown for the first time; this is
a single-seat, armed version of the T-38 Talon trainer.

August 28 Over North Vietnam, Cap­tains Richard S. Ritchie and Charles DeBellevue shoots down their fifth MiG-21, becoming the first Air Force aces of this war.

SEPTEMBER 9 Over North Vietnam, weapons systems operator Captain Charles DeBellevue downs his sixth MiG-21, becoming the highest-scoring ace of the war.

SEPTEMBER 11 Over North Vietnam, Air Force fighter-bombers drop precision – guided weapons on the Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi, destroying it.

Подпись: Ritchie, Steve (1942-) Air Force pilot. Richard Steven Ritchie was born in Reidsville, North Carolina, on June 25,1942, and he passed through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1964. He earned his wings at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas, in 1966, and arrived in Vietnam two years later flying F-4 Phantom II jet fighters. During his first tour, Ritchie pioneered the Fast FAC (forward air control) technique to better guide and support aerial bombing efforts. He flew 169 such missions before rotating back to the United States to attend the Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. At the time, the Air Force was upgrading the flying skills of fighter pilots through the Red Flag program, which pitted them against instructors versed in Soviet-style tactics. Ritchie then returned to Vietnam in 1972 flying an improved model of the Phantom II, armed with better missiles and radar. Ritchie deployed with the 555th (“Triple Nickle”) Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Udon, Thailand, and he flew combat missions over North Vietnam to prevent the small but determined People's Air Force from attacking American bombers. On May 10,1972, Ritchie and Weapons Officer Captain Charles DeBellevue shot down their first MiG-21. Three more consecutive kills followed and, on August 28, 1972, Ritchie and DeBellevue bagged their fifth MiG-21, becoming the first Air Force aces of the Vietnam War. Ritchie retired from active duty in 1974, although he remained active in the Air Force Reserve as a brigadier general in charge of recruiting activity at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He retired in January 1999, and presently resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

OCTOBER 2 At Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, an Atlas-Burner launch rocket carries two satellites aloft: Space Test Program 72-1, to measure radiation effects in space, and Radcat, a passive radar and optical calibration target.

OCTOBER 13 Over North Vietnam, weapons officer Captain Jeffrey S. Fein – stein shoots down his fifth MiG, becom­ing the final Air Force ace of the war. Feinstein, Richard S. Ritchie, and Charles B. DeBellevue all win the Mackay Trophy.

NOVEMBER 22 Over North Vietnam, a B-52 is damaged by a Communist SA- 2 missile and the crew manages to eject over Thailand; this is the first heavy bomber lost.

December 1 Colonel and astronaut Thomas P. Stafford is promoted to briga­dier general in the Air Force, aged 42 years.

DECEMBER 18—29 Over North Vietnam, Operation linebacker II kicks into effect in order to bring North Vietnam back to the Paris peace talks. All told, 741 B-52 sorties are flown, along with 796 flak sup­pression missions; 15 B-52s are downed, along with 2 F – 111s, 3 F-4s, 2 A-7s, 2 A-6s (Navy), 1 EB-66, 1 HH-53, and 1 RA-5C (Navy). On the first day of the attack, B-52 gunner Sergeant Samuel O. Turner downs a MiG-21 as it tries to attack.

DECEMBER 24 Over North Vietnam, B – 52 gunner Airman First Class Albert E. Moore shoots down the second MiG-21 scored in this fashion.