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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

October 14, 1918
Brig Gen William "Billy" Mitchell designated as Chief of Air Service Army Group; however, the General Staff disapproved and abolished this designation.

October 14, 1922
Lt. Russell L. Maughan used a Curtis R-6 racing biplane powered by a D-12 Curtis Conqueror engine, to set a world speed record of 205.31 mph over a 100-kilometer course in the Pulitzer Trophy Air Race near Mount Clemens, Mich.

October 14, 1940
Maj. Reuben Moffat, 33rd Pursuit Group Commander, became the first U.S. Army Air Corps pilot to fly an aircraft off a carrier. He flew his Curtiss P-40 off the USS Wasp along with 24 other P-40s and nine North American O-47s to test deployment procedures off Virginia's coast.

October 14, 1943
Eighth Air Force struck the heart of the German ball-bearing industry at Schweinfurt, Germany, for the second time, but 67 of 291 B-17s were lost. This mission caused the Eighth to suspend daylight bombing missions to targets deep inside Germany.

More Milestones

Medal of Honor Tribute

Medal of Honor Receipients

Heritage News

A history of 'there first' For AF special ops  1

Airmen missing from Vietnam War identified  2

Lost Johnny Carson film found at March

Elmendorf P38 Lightning  6

13th Air Force inactivates, merges with PACAF  |  VIDEO

Special Tactics Airmen earn Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart  3

First shuttle trainer introduced by NASA astronauts  |  VIDEO

Airman missing from WWII identified  2

Former SAC commander dies  5

Space shuttle arrives home for one last 'endeavor'

Spotlights

Berlin Airlift

Project Score

Navaho X-10

Inside AF.mil

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