The History of the U.S. Air Force

The U.S. Air force was founded

Sep 18, 1947

http://The birth of the United States Air Force. Stuart Symington becomes the first Secretary of the Air Force. Air activities transfered from the Army to the Air Force.

First super-sonic plane fight

Oct 14, 1947

First supersonic flightThe first supersonic flight is made by Capt. Charles E. Yeager in the rocket-powered Bell XS-1 over Muroc Dry Lake, California.

First nonstop around the world flight

Mar 2, 1949

first around the world flightThe B-50A "Lucky Lady II" completes the first nonstop around-the-world flight: 23,452 miles in 94 hours, 1 minute.

Capt. James Jabara (USAF) becomes the first jet "ace."

Nov 8, 1951

First Aviation Combathttp://1st Lt. Russell Brown, Jr., in an F-80 "Shooting Star," downs a MiG-15 in Korean War, the first all-jet aerial combat ace

first sattelite

Oct 4, 1957

the Air Force successfully launches the Discoverer I satellite into polar orbit from Vandenburg AFB, California.

First all arial combat

Jan 2, 1958

A flight of USAF F-4C Phantoms is attacked by three MiG-17s in the first air-to-air combat of the war over North Vietnam.

First Female Coloneals

Feb 29, 1968

Jeanne M. Holm, WAF Director, and Helen O'Day, assigned to the Office of the Air Force Chief of Staff, become the first women promoted to Colonel.

First nonstop Helicopter flight

Aug 24, 1970

HelicopterTwo Air Force crews complete the first nonstop transpacific helicopter flight as they land their Sikorsky HH-53Cs at Da Nang AB, South Vietnam, after a 9,000-mile flight from Eglin AFB, Florida. The helicopters were refueled in flight during the trip

First Female USAF member goes into space

Feb 10, 1994

firstUSAF Major Susan Helms, flying aboard space shuttle Endeavour, becomes the first U.S. military woman in space.

Pilot makes first human powered flight

Jun 12, 1997

GOSSEMEAR ALBATROSSPilot/cyclist Bryan Allen makes the first human-powered flight across the English Channel in the Gossamer Albatross.