1933
JANUARY 3 In Washington, D. C., General Douglas A. MacArthur instructs the Air Corps to conduct all land-based operations in defense of the United States and all overseas possessions.
FEBRUARY 10 Major Hugh J. Knerr,
chief of the Field Service Section, Air Materiel Division, promulgates a scheme whereby each of four regional air depots will possess its own air transport squadron to haul men and equipment between the depots. They can also transport army troops on maneuvers.
OCTOBER 11 In Washington, D. C., a board headed by Major General Hugh A. Drum recommends creation of a General Headquarters Air Force (GHQ). This would consists of 1,000 aircraft and operate independently of all ground units; the report is subsequently approved by Secretary of War George H. Derm
NOVEMBER 20 After departing from Akron, Ohio, Lieutenant Commander Thomas G. W. Settle and Major Chester L. Fordney are the first Americans to take a balloon to an altitude of 61,237 feet.
November 27 The first production Martin B-10 bomber is accepted into the Army Air Corps. This streamlined, allmetal monoplane features retractable landing gear, an internal bomb bay, and a power nose turret. It flies faster than contemporary fighters of the day.
December 13 In Washington, D. C., Major Bryan Freeburg receives the first Air Mail Flyer’s Medal of Honor from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.