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
To the amazing members of the Super Sabre Society, Some Fun Thanksgiving Trivia 1. In the early 1960s, NASA started testing ways to safeguard food for the Apollo mission. The space agency came up with a three-step approach, according to NASA: Identify points in the food production process where hazards could be introduced, Determine how […]
25 November 1956 – U. S. Air Force Sergeant Richard Patton of the 1710th Aerial Port Squadron makes the first successful parachute jump in Antarctica. He jumps from 1,500 feet as a test to determine the cause of parachute malfunction in sub-zero weather conditions. The first Antarctic free-fall jump was by VX-6 pararescue team member
24 November 1953 – A USAF North American F-86D Sabre crashes near Marianna, Florida on this date. The pilot ejects but was killed when his chute fails to deploy, his fighter coming down ~10 miles N of Graham Air Base. Col. Lewis H. Norley, commanding officer of the base, said that due to “unknown circumstances”
Today in History – November 24, 1953 – F-86D Sabre pilot’s chute fails Read More »