Official Site of the U.S. Air Force

Heritage

The Heritage section is dedicated to the former Airmen who developed the independent Air Force and continue its evolution into cyberspace. The subsections provide an overview of important people and milestones. The data has biographical profiles and citations for Medal of Honor recipients along with spotlights featuring important dates in Air Force heritage. The people, events and equipment of the past are integral to understanding the future.

This Week in History

September 23, 1944
Twenty-four B-25s from the 340th Bomb Group, Twelfth Air Force, bombed and sank the light cruiser Taranto in La Spezia Harbor, Italy.

September 23, 1949
Through air samples, an Air Weather Service RB-29 confirmed the first Soviet A-bomb explosion.

September 23, 1950
In the first recorded special operations mission of the war, SB-17 aircraft of the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron made a classified flight in Korea.

September 23, 1951
The 27th Fighter-Escort Wing at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, received the first F-84G Thunderjet. It could be refueled inflight.

More Milestones

Medal of Honor Tribute

Medal of Honor Receipients

Heritage News

Space shuttle arrives home for one last 'endeavor'

Never forget: World War II Airman, POW shares story of resiliency  12

Slideshow: Phantom in the water

Academy holds panel honoring women's suffrage  3

World War II vet awarded Distinguished Flying Cross  11  |  VIDEO

England ceremony marks 70th anniversary of Eighth Air Force

Drill Team members reflect on where they came from during AF Week

USAF Honor Guard, Band represent Airmen at Air Force Week

Airmen gain insight during former CMSAF forum

Enlisted village cares for AF widows, families

Spotlights

Berlin Airlift

Project Score

Navaho X-10

Inside AF.mil

GeneralImagesVideo

View All RSS