29 April 1949 – During WWII a need was discovered for a “parasite fighter” – a jet fighter to protect bombers from hostile intercept aircraft. Pilot fatigue from P-41 and P-51 pilots who were protecting Boeing B-17’s, B-24’s, and Boeing B-29’s was a real problem. Aerial refueling hadn’t been perfected and these interceptors couldn’t match
25 April 1946 Frank Kendall “Pete” Everest, test pilot at Edwards AFB, CA is airdropped from a Boeing EB-50D Superfortress in a Bell X-3 supersonic rocket plane. This was the 10th flight of the X-2 program and the 3rd powered flight. Everest had test-flown the Bell X-1B to a speed of Mach 2.3 (2.3 times […]
Today in History – April 25, 1956 – Everest conquers speed Read More »
24 April 1967 Vietnam War: American General William Westmoreland says in a news conference that US political atmosphere may give the north hope they could win a war politically that they could not win militarily. President Lyndon Johnson chose William Westmoreland, a distinguished veteran of World War II and the Korean War, to command the U.S.
23 April 1968 –Major Amos Oliver Fox was assigned to Phan Rang AB. Fox was from Birmingham, AL and was serving with the 7th Air Force, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He had enlisted in the Air Force and entered through the Regular Military. He began his tour on July 23, 1967.