The Syrian airfield prepare for reception of military aircraft of China
The latest news about fast emergence in borders of Syria of navy of China encouraged Syrians and res[...]
1969
JANUARY 1 In South Vietnam, the 71st Special Operations Squadron, an Air Force Reserve unit, flies the first AC – 119 Shadow gunship mission.
JANUARY 7 Northrop delivers it 1,000th T-38 Talon trainer to the Air Force.
FEBRUARY 4 At Edwards Air Force Base, the last surviving prototype XB-70 Valkyrie departs to be put on display at the National Museum of the U. S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
February 9 A Titan IIIC rocket places TACSAT 1, the first tactical communications satellite, into orbit. This device relays messages between land, sea, and airborne tactical stations.
FEBRUARY 24 Over Bien Hoa Province, South Vietnam, an AC-47 gunship is struck by antiaircraft fire and Airman 1st Class John L. Levitow, though severely wounded, throws a magnesium flare that is burning in the cabin out the cargo door. He receives a Congressional Medal of Honor.
March 3-19 The Apollo 9 space capsule conducts operational tests while in Earth orbit; the crew consists of Air Force colonels James A. McDivitt and David R. Scott and civilian Russell L. Schweickart.
MARCH 18 Over Cambodia, B-52 bombers begin covert bombing raids of Communist sanctuaries under the codenames of BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, and
snack; by the time they end in May 1970, 43,000 missions will have been launched.
April 4-10 As 72 F-4D Phantom IIs of the 49th Tactical Air Wing relocate from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, they complete 504 aerial refuelings without mishap. The unit receives the Mackay Trophy for its efforts.
April 17 In California, the Martin X-24A lifting body piloted by Major Jerauld Gentry conducts its first glide test to validate the potential of reusable spacecraft.
May 14 In Ecuador, Operation combat mosquito unfolds as Air Force C-141s deliver 50 tons of pesticides to combat an outbreak of encephalitis. A pair of UC – 123s also begins a spraying project to destroy mosquito breeding grounds; the outbreak is contained within a month.
May 18—26 Apollo 10 becomes the second spacecraft to orbit the moon, and includes the Command and service modules, plus the Lunar Extension Module (LEM). Air Force colonel Thomas stafford and Navy astronaut Eugene Cernan fly the LEM to within 5.5 miles above the moon’s surface as a dry run for Apollo 11.
May 21 The huge Lockheed C-5A Galaxy sets a new gross liftoff weight of 728,100 pounds.
June The U. S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, or Thunderbirds, begins its new season flying F-4 Phantom II jets.
June 5 Over North Vietnam, Air Force bombers resume bombing raids, the first since the previous November.
July 1 In Southeast Asia, the Air Force Air Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS) flies its 2,500th mission.
July 8 In South Vietnam, Air Force C-141 Starlifters begin the withdrawal of 25,000 U. S. combat troops in accordance with President Richard M. Nixon’s Vietnamiza – tion policies. The first wave is landed at McChord Air Force Base, Washington.
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July 20 The Apollo 11 Lunar Extension Module (LEM) lands successfully on the surface of the moon and Navy astronaut Neil A. Armstrong becomes the first human to leave a footprint there. He is joined an hour later by Air Force astronaut Edwin P. “Buzz” Aldrin. Meanwhile, Air Force astronaut Michael Collins remains in orbit with the main capsule.
July 24 The Apollo 11 space mission successfully concludes after 8 days, 3 hours, and 18 minutes in space. They bring back 50 pounds of lunar rock samples.
AUGUST 1 In Washington, D. C., General
John D. Ryan becomes the new Air Force chief of staff. Donald L. Harlow also becomes the new chief master sergeant of the Air Force.
AUGUST 19 In Mississippi, Air Force transports begin delivering tons of food, water, and relief supplies to assist victims of Hurricane Camille. They deliver 6,000 tons of goods within a month.
OCTOBER 8—14 At Wheelus Air Force Base, Libya, three HH-53 helicopters are sent to Tunis to assist victims of heavy flooding. Ultimately, they rescue 2,000 individuals.
NOVEMBER 6 At Holloman Air Force Base, scientists release the largest balloon ever constructed; it is over 1,000-feet long and carries a 13,000-pound payload into the air.
DECEMBER 18 At the Air Force Missile Development Center, crew test fire Maverick (AGM-65) air-to-surface television – guided missiles against moving targets for the first time.