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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

May 19, 1908
Lt. Thomas E. Seldridge, the first U.S. Army officer to fly an airplane, flew the 'White Wing' at Hammondsport. It was Dr. Alexander Graham Bell's second Aerial Experiment Association plane, and had hinged ailerons.

May 19, 1919
MSgt. R.W. Bottriell made the first free back-type parachute jump.

May 19, 1961
The first Titan I arrived at Lowry AFB, Colo.

May 19, 1963
On a nonstop from Washington, D.C. to a Moscow flight , the U. S. presidential aircraft, a Boeing 707-320B, with Col. James B. Swindal at the controls, set 15 nonstop FAI records in flying the 5,004-mile route in eight hours 39 minutes 2 seconds. On the return flight, Colonel Swindal and his crew set another 15 FAI records on the Moscow to Washington trip, flying an average speed of 490.96 mph.

More Milestones

Medal of Honor Tribute

Medal of Honor Recipients

Heritage News

Memorial Day: Remember our veterans  1

Senior enlisted advisers mark Armed Forces Day

Synonyms: Superman and Doolittle Raider  1

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force selected for heritage award   1

Bataan survivor helps celebrate memorial walk  2

Faith in captivity: Vietnam War POW inspires Airmen  2

Doolittle Raiders greet, inspire Hurlburt Field Airmen during final reunion  4

Air Force Combat Talons fly for last time  4

AF Honor Guard blossoms in joint drill exhibition  1

Retired 'crew dogs' keep Norton's legacy alive  1

Spotlights

Berlin Airlift

Project Score

Navaho X-10

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