This Day in History: WW II’s most famous bomber, Memphis Belle
On this day in 1943, a B-17 Flying Fortress completes its 25th combat mission without losing a member of its crew. Memphis Belle would...
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tara
- May 15
- 3 min
This Day in History: First U.S. Airmail
On this day in 1918, the first official U.S. airmail flight departs from Washington, D.C. Such a flight is ordinary today, but in the...
tara
- Mar 21
- 3 min
This Day in History: Charles Lindbergh & his historic flight
On this day in 1928, Colonel Charles Lindbergh is awarded the Medal of Honor. In an odd twist, he’d already received a Distinguished...
tara
- Feb 9
- 3 min
This Day in History: Thomas Selfridge, aviation pioneer
On this day in 1882, a future aviation pioneer is born. Thomas E. Selfridge’s name isn’t well known, but he was among those working to...
tara
- Feb 7
- 3 min
This Day in History: Apollo 14 returns from the moon
On this day in 1971, the crew of Apollo 14 returns to Earth. The astronauts had just become the third NASA crew to walk on the moon....
tara
- Jan 16
- 3 min
This Day in History: The Space Shuttle Columbia explodes
On this day in 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia departs on her final mission. She’d once been the first space shuttle to launch into...
tara
- Dec 22, 2023
- 3 min
This Day in History: The first untethered spacewalk
On this day in 2017, a pioneer passes away. Bruce McCandless II is best known as the NASA astronaut who made the first untethered...
tara
- Nov 22, 2023
- 3 min
This Day in History: Aviation pioneer Jerrie Mock
On this day in 1925, a future aviation pioneer is born. Geraldine “Jerrie” Mock is best known for her 1964 solo trip around the world—the...
tara
- Oct 10, 2023
- 3 min
This Day in History: Chuck Yeager's supersonic flight
On this day in 1947, a United States Air Force pilot nearly loses control of his plane while conducting a test flight. Always coolheaded,...
tara
- Aug 22, 2023
- 4 min
This Day in History: The X-15 Hypersonic Plane
On this day in 1963, a NASA test pilot soars into space. Joseph A. Walker was then flying an experimental spaceplane, the X-15. The trip...
tara
- Jul 20, 2023
- 3 min
This Day in History: Neil Armstrong steps onto the moon
On this day in 1969, Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon. Americans had won a “space race” to get there. We’d...
tara
- Mar 1, 2023
- 3 min
This Day in History: Lucky Lady II's triumphant flight
On this day in 1949, a B-50 bomber wraps up a historic non-stop trip around the globe. The Cold War was just beginning, and the flight...
tara
- Feb 24, 2023
- 3 min
This Day in History: Kee Bird Survivors
On this day in 1947, a United States Army Air Forces crew is rescued from the arctic ice. Their Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Kee Bird, had...
tara
- Feb 7, 2023
- 3 min
This Day in History: Alone in Space
On this day in 1932, a pioneer is born. Alfred “Al” Worden is perhaps best known for his service as the command module pilot for Apollo...
tara
- Jan 18, 2023
- 3 min
This Day in History: First airplane landing on a warship
On this day in 1911, an airplane lands aboard an American warship for the first time. Eugene B. Ely was the pilot who accomplished this...
tara
- Jan 11, 2023
- 4 min
This Day in History: Amelia Earhart's record-setting flight across the Pacific
On this day in 1935, Amelia Earhart departs from Honolulu. The flight that followed would make her the first person to fly solo from...
tara
- Nov 23, 2022
- 3 min
This Day in History: Forgotten Aviation Pioneer Wiley Post
On this day in 1898, a future aviation entrepreneur is born in a small farming community in Texas. Wiley Post would rise above poverty,...
tara
- Oct 11, 2022
- 3 min
This Day in History: Teddy Roosevelt, first President to fly
On this day in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first United States President to fly in an airplane. Presidents board airplanes on a...
tara
- Sep 29, 2022
- 3 min
This Day in History: Douglas World Cruisers (part 2)
On this day in 1924, U.S. Army Air Service pilots celebrate success. They’d just completed the first aerial circumnavigation of the...
tara
- Sep 28, 2022
- 3 min
This Day in History: Douglas World Cruisers
On this day in 1924, U.S. Army Air Service pilots complete the first aerial circumnavigation of the globe. The journey took 175 days!...
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