Air Force Historical Foundation

1942: After being forced to ditch in the Pacific Ocean, some 600 miles north of Samoa, WW I ace “Eddie” Rickenbacker, Col. Hans C. Adamson, and Pvt. John F. Bartek are rescued by a Navy Vought-Sikorsky OS2U-3 Kingfisher seaplane. The trio had been afloat on a raft for more than three weeks. The three men were survivors of B 17D Flying Fortress 40 3089, piloted by Capt. William T. Cherry Jr., which ditched in the Pacific on October 21, 1942, after running out of fuel due to a navigation error. The men were rescued and were suffering from exposure, sunburn, dehydration, and near starvation. Rickenbacker had lost 40 pounds, but after a few days of rest, he completed his original assignment and delivered his secret message to General MacArthur. (US Navy Image)

1941: This day marks the launch of an experimental GB-8 Glide Bomb with radio controls. The GB series of weapons are part of Project APHRODITE; a program centered on developing standoff weapon capability and more precise guidance for bombs. Although the U.S. Army Air Forces went to war with high-altitude, daylight, precision bombardment as their primary doctrine, other top secret programs were being developed by Army scientists to produce remotely piloted weapons that might keep American Airmen out of deadly flak belts over heavily defended targets. (US Army Photos)

The Leadership Team of the Air Force Historical Foundation thanks all those who have served our nation in the defense of Freedom and sacrificed for the cause of Liberty. Enjoy celebrating your service this Veterans Day Know the Past…Shape the Future

1972: In a competition between five companies, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas received contracts to build prototype, advanced medium STOL transports, the YC-14 (left) and YC-15 (right). Intended to replace the C-130 Hercules, increased need for strategic airlift led the Air Force to cancel the AMST program in favor of a larger airlifter. In the end, neither the YC-15 nor the Boeing YC-14 was ordered into production, although the YC-15's basic design would be used to form the successful McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing) C-17 Globemaster III. (USAF Images)

1944: MEDAL OF HONOR. 1Lt Donald J. Gott (left) and 2Lt William E. Metzger’s B-17 received several bad flak hits while flying in a group formation. With only one engine operable, the pilots jettisoned the bombs and made for Allied territory. The rest of the crew parachuted, leaving the pilots and the radio operator, who was too injured to jump, to try a crash landing. Upon reaching friendly airspace and lacking a working intercom system, Metzger left the cockpit to tell the other crewmen to parachute to safety. Gott and Metzger then attempted a crash landing, but the aircraft overshot an open plain and struck a forested area near Hattonville, Meuse, France. Unbeknownst to the pilots, tail gunner Staff Sgt. Herman B. Krimminger had failed to jump clear of the plane and his parachute had become entangled in the tail section. Gott, Dunlap, Krimminger and Metzger were killed because of the crash, explosions and fire. For their actions, both Gott and Metzger were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on May 16, 1945. (US Army images)

1958: The X-1E made its last flight over Edwards. This flight concluded the X-1 flight test program. In 1955, the X-1-2 was modified to include a new thin wing and a low-pressure fuel system. The most visible change was a raised canopy that replaced the original flush windshield on the aircraft, called the X-1E. The modified aircraft made its first glide flight on December 12, 1955, and its first powered flight three days later. Over a three-year period, the X-1E made a total of 26 flights, reaching a speed of Mach 2.24. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) pilot Joseph Walker was the pilot for flights 1 through 21, while John McKay made flights 22 to 26. The final flight occurred on November 6, 1958. This was also the last flight by an X-1 aircraft. (NASA Images)

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the entrance of the first class of women to the USAF Academy. To celebrate this event, members of the class have developed a podcast—“80s Ladies and Beyond.” Each episode consists of an interview with a member of the class (both men and women are planned to contribute) who discuss their experiences as cadets and highlight how those experiences influenced their careers in the USAF and beyond. Follow these links to enjoy “80s Ladies and Beyond.” PODCAST HOMEPAGE: 80s.ladies.podcast Official: Instagram, Facebook | Linktree TRAILER: open.spotify.com/episode/7AU… The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation recently published an excellent article by Karen Wilhelm (USAF, 80) and this link will take you to there. Karen Wilhelm, Ph.D., served nearly 29 years in the USAF beginning as an enlisted avionics technician. She graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1980 as a member of the first class to which women were ad mitted, with a B.S. in military history. After retiring in 2007, she earned her doctorate in liberal studies from Georgetown University where her thesis examined the nature of mobilizing for war in the 21st century from a US perspective. She has written articles for the Air Force Journal of Logistics and Airpower Journal and taught at the George Mason Schar School of Policy and Government. She is currently researching the history of the integration of women at the Academy, from which this article is drawn. This link will take you to the article posted on the AFHF website. afhistory.org/wp-content/upl… This is not the first time an article on this subject has graced our journal’s pages. In 2007, an article by history major, Allison Gawlinski, was published and can be accessed at the link below. Know the Past…Shape the Future. Cadet Allison Gawlinski was a member of the USAFA Class of 2007, where she majored in history. She grew up in Manchester, Connecticut. In the summer of 2000, she studied French at the Lycée Jean Piaget in Switzerland. She graduated as a scholar from Manchester High School in 2002. Ms. Gawlinski is an active member of the Civil Air Patrol, where she earned her Earhart Award as a cadet, and was cadet of the year for the Connecticut Wing in 2002. Prior to entering the United States Air Force Academy, she attended North Western Preparatory School on a Falcon Foundation Scholarship. Cadet Gawlinski participated in the Academy Exchange program in the spring of 2006, went to school at the United States Naval Academy for that semester, and interned in the Air Force Historical Office at Bolling AFB, in Washington, D.C afhistory.org/wp-content/upl…

Air Force Historical Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is not funded by the United States Air Force. The Foundation’s primary mission is to educate and promote the preservation and appreciation of the history and heritage of the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Space Force, and the organizations and people that have come before. Our continued focus is on producing quality research and educational programs for our Airmen, Guardians, and the families of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. This includes members of the Active-Duty Force, National Guard, Reserve, DoD Civilians, and civilian aviation and space enthusiasts around the world. OK, let’s cut to the chase…GIVING TUESDAY IS ONE MONTH AWAY. As a non-profit organization, AFHF is dependent upon the generosity of our members and those individuals who believe that the preservation and distribution of air and space history is a worthy endeavor. Since you are reading this, that’s YOU! To sum up, the publications and programs AFHF provides continue to expand and provide enrichment to members and the public. Here is a list and the links. Free digital copy of the classic, A Few Great Captains by visiting the AFHF website here: afhistory.org/wp-content/upl… Download The AFHF Official Podcast: Know the Past…Shape the Future, produced by Award winning broadcaster, Matt Jolley. afhistory.org/podcast/ Members may view the complete archive of Journals dating to the 1950s. Find the JAFHF here: afhistory.org/research/the-j… This Day in Air and Space History continues as our single best means of communication with our membership and independent subscribers. We have expanded into several different daily formats, contributions by Foundation members, and continue to highlight historical topics that are particularly relevant to current events. The morning releases are available to everyone at no cost. The AFHF “research page” includes video recordings from the 2023 and 2025 ad 2026 Symposia, links to books written by Foundation members and USAF Academy History Department alumni, Links to AU Archives, Access to critical AF Magazine stories and even the 45 minute USAF film describing the 1995 New World Vistas technology study. The AFHF Newsletter, The Raider Chronicles is a terrific source for Foundation news, personal stories, aviation quizzes, and “ask a researcher” opportunities. In 2026, the Raider Chronicles will change to a new LinkedIn format with similar content to the original version. afhistory.org/research/ AFHF will award its first edition of flight scholarships to deserving CAP members in 2027 and this is where we can use your help. THIS YEAR, ON GIVING TUESDAY (1 December 2026), we are asking that you consider making a meaningful donation to support our scholarship and research programs. To expand these programs, we are depending on you. All contributions are appreciated and larger sponsorship opportunities are available. Go to this link to make a difference and THANK YOU! DONATE - Air Force Historical Foundation

1999: The 169 FW (South Carolina Air National Guard) qualified most of its pilots to use the High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) Targeting System to hunt and disable enemy surface-to air missile sites. That made the 169th the only ANG fighter unit able to perform the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) mission with HARMs. (USAF Image)

1960: Explorer 8, an ionospheric measuring satellite, launched from Cape Canaveral into a 20-50 year orbit by a four-stage Juno II rocket combination. Explorer 8 was intended to study a variety of phenomenon in the ionosphere at altitudes between 250 and 990 miles and their variation from full sun to full shade conditions. Battery power failed on 27 December 1960. Considerable difficulty was encountered with “decommutating” the telemetered data to make machine processing possible. As a result of these difficulties, the data was mostly processed by hand. Despite these difficulties, considerable new knowledge about the ionosphere was gained from operation of the satellite. Explorer 8 decayed from orbit on 28 March 2012. (NASA Image)

1947: The Howard Hughes H-4 Hercules, “The Spruce Goose,” made its first and only flight in Los Angeles Harbor. It traveled about a mile. The “Goose” was built from ‘Duramold” birchwood, because of wartime restrictions on the use of aluminum and concerns about weight. (National Archives, PD)

SAVE THE DATE: 15 APRIL 2027 AFHF ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET NATIONAL AIR AND SPAE MUSEUM, UDVAR-HAZY CENTER Join AFHF as we celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the USAF as a separate service. 1830-2230, formal attire encouraged, details and awardee list to follow in January

1984: Groundbreaking for a new Pave PAWS radar system took place at El Dorado Air Force Station, Texas. The new radar would become a part of a ring of four radars including systems at Cape Cod AFS, Robins AFB and Beale AFB. The radar achieved initial operational capacity in May 1986. With the end of the Cold War, the radar and installation were closed in 1995. (USAF Image)

1918: Capt. Edward V. “Eddie” Rickenbacker shoots down his final enemy aircraft of the war (a balloon). His total of 26 victories was later revised down to 24 1/3 by the Office of Air Force History. In 1931, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Herbert Hoover. (US Army image)

2007: OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM/MACKAY TROPHY. Captain Scott Markle received the trophy for his actions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Captain Markle, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot from the 81st Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, engaged Taliban fighters on 16 June 2006, who were fighting an American special forces team on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. When he arrived just before dawn, visibility made it difficult to find the team's location. Unable to employ weapons due to the enemy's close proximity to the team, he flew a dangerously low pass over the area and released self-protection flares. A ground controller then asked Markle to make a few more close passes to give the U. S. team the time to create more distance from the Taliban forces. Afterwards, he strafed the enemy with more than 1,000 30-millimeter rounds, allowing the special forces team to escape with no casualties. In his effort, Markle destroyed three machine gun nests and killed 40 enemy combatants. (AFNEWS, “A-10 Pilot Awarded Mackay Trophy,” 30 Oct 2007, USAF Photo.)

2006: Through 29 October, NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB flew the General Atomics Altair UAV to photograph and map the 62-square-mile Esperanza fire near Palm Springs. The Altair the flew at 43,000 feet above the fire area, where it sent 100 images and more than 20 data files in 16 hours by a real-time satellite link to the fire management team. NASA’s Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, partnered with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) in the early 2000s to demonstrate technologies to expand the capabilities of remotely operated aircraft to perform high-altitude Earth science missions. To accomplish the task, GA-ASI developed an enlarged version of its Predator A reconnaissance aircraft, the Predator B, including an extended-wingspan Altair version for NASA. (With a high-tech infrared imaging sensor in its underbelly pod, the Altair UAS flew repeated passes over the Esperanza wildfire to aid firefighting efforts. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.)

1954: Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., was promoted to Brigadier General, becoming the USAF’s first Black general officer. Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. played a vital role in opening the skies for Black Airmen. Davis spent more than 35 years in the military, breaking barriers at every level. He served all over the world, fighting against segregation on and off the battlefield. See this article by Anthony Eley for an excellent biographical summary of his life. (USAF Image) thenmusa.org/biographies/ben…

1925: Lt James H. Doolittle won the Schneider Cup Race at Baltimore Harbor in a Curtiss R3C-2 floatplane racer. He averaged 232.6 MPH. The sleek Curtiss R3C represented the latest concepts in high-speed racing design. Wood monocoque construction, thin airfoil shapes, a close-fitting engine covering, corrugated brass radiators built into the wings, and minimal external bracing for the single-bay biplane wing reflected emerging methods in aerodynamic streamlining and drag reduction. The 610-horsepower Curtiss V-1400 engine and the Reed Duralumin propeller were the state-of-the-art in high-output propulsion technology. (US Army image, The R3C can be found at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC)

1909: Following the acceptance of the 1909 Flyer, Army aviation activities were moved to College Park, Md., where a larger flying field was available. On Oct. 8, Wilbur Wright began giving flying lessons to Lts. Frank Lahm and Frederick Humphreys. Lt. Humphreys soloed on Oct. 26, becoming the Army's first "pilot." Lt. Lahm (seen here with Wilbur Wright) soloed several minutes later. Within weeks, both officers were ordered to return to duty with their respective Army units. The Aeronautical Division was left with one airplane and a handful of airplane mechanics, but no pilot. (US Army image)

1955: The Republic YF-105A Thunderchief exceeded the speed of sound on its first flight at Edwards AFB. The Republic F-105 Thunderchief served with the USAF from 1958 to 1984. Capable of Mach 2, it was originally designed as a single-seat, nuclear-attack aircraft; a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The F-105 was commonly known as the "Thud" by its crews because of the sound it made when the afterburner lit. (USAF image)