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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 21, 1917
First flight test of the 12-cylinder Liberty engine in a Curtiss HS-1 Flying Boat completed at Buffalo, N.Y. Later, both the engine and aircraft were adopted as standard service types.

October 21, 1950
In the first use of a helicopter in support of an airborne operation, the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron sent H-5s to evacuate some 35 paratroopers and rescue seven American prisoners of war from the Sukchon and Sunchon area. A C-47 used loudspeakers to persuade some 500 enemy troops hiding in houses near Kunmori to surrender. Combat Cargo Command began aeromedical evacuations from Pyongyang.

October 21, 1960
A Mace-B tactical missile, designed to carry a nuclear bomb 1,800 miles, launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

October 21, 1961
The U.S. Air Force launched MIDAS IV, a heat-sensing satellite that could detect missile launches from Point Arguello into a 2,100-mile circular orbit. Under Project West Force, the Midas IV then ejected millions of copper wires to form a reflecting belt in space to aid radio communications. The wires failed to disperse as planned.

More Milestones

Medal of Honor Tribute

Medal of Honor Receipients

Heritage News

Remains of two Airmen lost in 1969 identified, honored

A history of 'there first' For AF special ops  3

Airmen missing from Vietnam War identified  3

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

Spotlights

Berlin Airlift

Project Score

Navaho X-10

Inside AF.mil

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