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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September 16: Capt. Ron Cavendish, <strong>USAF</strong>, and his crew successfully landed<br />
their B–52 Strat<strong>of</strong>ortress after the aircraft lost both <strong>of</strong> its rudder-elevator<br />
hydraulic systems. Never before had this feat been accomplished without<br />
significant damage to or complete destruction <strong>of</strong> the aircraft. For<br />
this achievement, the crew earned the Mackay Trophy.<br />
September 21: A B–52 Strat<strong>of</strong>ortress <strong>of</strong> the 416th Bombardment Wing, Griffiss<br />
<strong>Air</strong> Force Base, New York, conducted the first operational test <strong>of</strong> an<br />
air-launched cruise missile.<br />
September 30: H. Ross Perot, Jr., and Jay Coburn completed the first helicopter<br />
circumnavigation <strong>of</strong> the world. <strong>The</strong>y flew a Bell 206L Longranger,<br />
starting and finishing at Fort Worth, Texas.<br />
1983<br />
February 3: To modernize America’s retaliatory capability, Strategic <strong>Air</strong><br />
Command completed the retr<strong>of</strong>itting <strong>of</strong> 300 Minuteman III intercontinental<br />
ballistic missiles with new reentry systems.<br />
March 1: Military <strong>Air</strong>lift Command activated Twenty-Third <strong>Air</strong> Force at Scott<br />
<strong>Air</strong> Force Base, Illinois, to provide combat rescue, special operations,<br />
weather reconnaissance, atmospheric sampling, security support for<br />
missile sites, training <strong>of</strong> helicopter and HC–130 crewmen, and<br />
pararescue training.<br />
April 1–May 1: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Air</strong> Force transferred 31 units and four installations<br />
from Strategic <strong>Air</strong> Command to Space Command, which took over<br />
missile warning and space surveillance systems.<br />
June 13: Pioneer 10 became the first spacecraft to leave the solar system.<br />
1982–83<br />
June 17: <strong>The</strong> Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile, carrying multiple<br />
warheads, was launched for the first time at Vandenberg <strong>Air</strong> Force<br />
Base, California. <strong>The</strong> unarmed warheads landed in the Kwajalein target<br />
area in the Pacific Ocean.<br />
June 18: Sally K. Ride became the first U.S. woman to journey into outer<br />
space. She was a Challenger crew member <strong>of</strong> the seventh space-shuttle<br />
mission.<br />
July 1: As a war raged between Iran and Iraq, posing a threat to the oil-rich<br />
nations <strong>of</strong> the Persian Gulf, the <strong>Air</strong> Force activated its first unit in<br />
Saudi Arabia—a provisional support squadron at Riyadh <strong>Air</strong> Base.<br />
July 22: Dick Smith, an Australian, completed the first solo flight around the<br />
world in a helicopter.<br />
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