One Hundred Years of Flight USAF Chronology ... - The Air University

1980
locate Soviet naval vessels operating in the Arabian Sea. This accomplishment
earned the aircrews the Mackay Trophy.
April 6: A 443d Military Airlift Wing aircrew flew nonstop from Beale Air
Force Base, California, to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United
Kingdom on the first C–141B operational mission. It refueled only
once on the 11-hour, 12-minute flight.
April 24: President James E. “Jimmy” Carter aborted Operation EAGLE
CLAW, an elaborate attempt to rescue U.S. citizens being held since November
4, 1979, as hostages in Tehran. Three of eight special-operations
helicopters suffered mechanical problems and had to be abandoned
or withdrawn. In the subsequent withdrawal operation, an RH–53 helicopter
collided with an EC–130, resulting in an explosion that killed
eight men and destroyed both aircraft. Hastily departing on C–130s,
the mission team abandoned the remaining four helicopters in the
Iranian desert.
May 18–June 5: Following the eruption of Mount Saint Helens in northwest
Washington State, the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, Military
Airlift Command, and the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
conducted humanitarian-relief efforts. During the operation, helicopter
crews lifted 61 people to safety, while SR–71 airplanes conducted
aerial photographic reconnaissance to assist rescue-and-recovery
efforts.
July 10–October 3: During Operation PROUD PHANTOM, the Air Force
deployed tactical fighters to Egypt for the first time. Twelve F–4Es flew
from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, to Cairo, Egypt, for tactical training
exercises that benefited both the U.S. Air Force and the Egyptian
air force, which was purchasing F–4s from the United States.
September 18: An explosion destroyed the 308th Strategic Missile Wing’s
Titan II launch complex 374-7 in Little Rock, Arkansas, killing one
person.
October 1: Operation ELF began with the deployment of four USAF E–3A
airborne warning and control system aircraft to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
to protect Saudi airspace during the Iran-Iraq War. Three KC–135s
also deployed during the operation.
October 3: Piloting an HH–3 Jolly Green Giant helicopter, Capt. John J.
Walters, USAF, and his crew rescued 61 passengers and crewmen from
the burning Dutch luxury liner Prinsendam in the Pacific Ocean, hoisting
and airlifting them from lifeboats to a supertanker. For this rescue,
Captain Walters earned the Mackay Trophy.
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