One Hundred Years of Flight USAF Chronology ... - The Air University
One Hundred Years of Flight USAF Chronology ... - The Air University
One Hundred Years of Flight USAF Chronology ... - The Air University
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1966<br />
March 10: To rescue Maj. Dafford W. Myers, a downed A–1E pilot, Maj.<br />
Bernard F. Fisher, <strong>USAF</strong>, a 1st <strong>Air</strong> Commando Squadron A–1E pilot,<br />
landed on the A Shau airstrip after it had been overrun by North Vietnamese<br />
regulars. Major Fisher was later awarded the Medal <strong>of</strong> Honor<br />
for this heroic act.<br />
March 16: Astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott blasted into space<br />
atop a Titan II missile on the Gemini 8 mission. <strong>The</strong> two astronauts<br />
later performed the first docking maneuver in space, linking their capsule<br />
with an Agena target vehicle that had been launched by an Atlas<br />
booster. At the conclusion <strong>of</strong> the mission, 20 minutes after splashdown<br />
in the Pacific Ocean 500 miles east <strong>of</strong> Okinawa, <strong>USAF</strong> pararescuemen<br />
attached flotation gear to the Gemini 8 space capsule, marking the first<br />
time <strong>USAF</strong> rescue forces had participated in the recovery <strong>of</strong> a Gemini<br />
capsule.<br />
March 31: Strategic <strong>Air</strong> Command phased out its last B–47 Stratojet. <strong>The</strong><br />
first all-jet strategic bomber, it had entered active service in 1951, 15<br />
years earlier.<br />
April 6: <strong>The</strong> Army agreed to transfer its CV–2 Caribou and CV–7 Buffalo aircraft<br />
to the <strong>Air</strong> Force, which would be responsible for all future<br />
intratheater fixed-wing tactical aircraft. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Air</strong> Force designated<br />
them the C–7A Caribou and C–8A Buffalo.<br />
April 11: Despite his own mortal wounds, A1C William H. Pitsenbarger,<br />
pararescue jumper with the 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery<br />
98<br />
In 1966 Maj. Bernard F. Fisher<br />
became the first <strong>USAF</strong> Medal <strong>of</strong><br />
Honor winner in Vietnam.