1960: Midas II launches on an Atlas-Agena A rocket into an orbit expected to last 40 months. On 26 May, its telemetry system fails.
Category Archives: History
May 23,1968
1968: 433 TFS Satan’s Angels use a Paveway Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) in combat for the first time. Modified F-4Ds fitted with laser illuminators, […]
May 22, 1990
McDonnell Douglas pilot Larry Walker and Maj Erwin Jenschke land the NF-15B STOL Maneuvering Technology Demonstrator in 1,650 feet at Edwards AFB. The Pratt and […]
May 19, 1918
1918: Raoul G. Lufbery, who posted 17 aerial victories with Lafayette Escadrille before joining American forces, dies in aerial combat.
May 17, 1919
1919: The Director of the Air Service orders the use of the national star insignia on all service planes; The order is implemented in […]
May 16, 1947
1947: Over New York, 101 B-29s “theoretically” drop bombs in SAC’s first Maximum Effort mission.
May 15, 1963
LAST MERCURY FLIGHT. After 22-orbits around earth, Maj L. Gordon Cooper ends a 34-hour, 20-minute flight in Mercury capsule Faith 7 before landing in the […]
May 12, 1949
1949: BERLIN AIRLIFT ENDS. The Soviet Union ends the blockade after delivery of 2,325,510 tons on 277,569 missions.
May 11, 1964
1964: Jackie Cochran becomes 1st woman to fly more than Mach 2, 1,429 MPH in an F-104G at Edwards AFB.