Events with tag - Air Force

July 10, 1940

Battle of Britain Begins

The Battle of Britain officially commenced on July 10, 1940, marking the start of Nazi Germany's first major aerial campaign against Britain, beginning with attacks on shipping convoys in the English Channel.

November 22, 1941

Adolf Galland becomes youngest German general

Adolf Galland was appointed as General der Jagdflieger (General of Fighters) in the Luftwaffe at age 29, making him the youngest general in the German armed forces during World War II. With 94 aerial victories and over 400 combat missions, his promotion marked a significant milestone in military history.

February 11, 1943

First Female Fighter Ace

Soviet pilot Lydia Litvyak made history by becoming the world's first female fighter ace during the defense of Stalingrad in World War II. Known as the 'White Rose of Stalingrad,' she achieved five confirmed aerial victories against Nazi aircraft.

June 14, 1943

Operation Pointblank

Operation Pointblank was a crucial World War II air campaign launched on June 14, 1943, combining US and British air forces to destroy German aircraft production capabilities and gain air superiority over Europe before D-Day.

August 1, 1943

Operation Tidal Wave

A daring low-altitude bombing raid conducted by 177 B-24 Liberators targeting crucial Nazi oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania, resulting in significant casualties but demonstrating American resolve to strike at Nazi Germany's vital resources.

March 4, 1944

First US Berlin Daylight Raid

The United States Army Air Forces conducted their first daylight bombing raid on Berlin on March 4, 1944, deploying 701 heavy bombers and 832 escort fighters in a strategic mission that demonstrated American air superiority over Nazi Germany.

December 12, 1944

Richard Bong Becomes America's Top Ace Pilot

Major Richard Bong achieves his 40th aerial victory, becoming America's highest-scoring fighter ace of World War II while flying the P-38 Lightning in the Pacific Theater. He surpassed Eddie Rickenbacker's World War I record and was awarded the Medal of Honor by General Douglas MacArthur.

March 9, 1945

Tokyo Firebombing

Operation Meetinghouse, conducted on March 9-10, 1945, was the deadliest air raid in history. 334 B-29 Superfortress bombers dropped incendiary bombs on Tokyo, killing 80,000-100,000 civilians and destroying 15.8 square miles of the city.

October 14, 1947

Breaking the Sound Barrier

On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier, piloting the Bell X-1 'Glamorous Glennis' to a speed of Mach 1.07 (700 mph) at 45,000 feet over the Mojave Desert.

November 8, 1950

First Jet Combat in MiG Alley

The historic first jet-versus-jet aerial combat occurred when Lieutenant Russell Brown, flying an F-80C Shooting Star, successfully engaged and shot down a Soviet-built MiG-15 over MiG Alley in North Korea, marking a revolutionary moment in aerial warfare history.

January 2, 1967

Operation Bolo

Operation Bolo was a decisive aerial battle of the Vietnam War on January 2, 1967, where U.S. Air Force F-4 Phantoms, disguised as F-105 Thunderchiefs, successfully destroyed seven North Vietnamese MiG-21s without any American losses.

June 5, 1967

Operation Focus

Operation Focus was a decisive Israeli military strike that launched the Six-Day War. In less than three hours, the Israeli Air Force destroyed nearly 300 Egyptian aircraft, effectively eliminating Egypt's air combat capability and achieving complete air superiority.

September 6, 1976

Viktor Belenko's MiG-25 Defection

Soviet pilot Lieutenant Viktor Belenko defected to the West by flying a top-secret MiG-25 Foxbat interceptor to Japan's Hakodate Airport, providing NATO and the United States with unprecedented access to Soviet military technology.

June 7, 1981

Operation Opera

Israeli Air Force conducted a precision bombing raid on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor near Baghdad, destroying the facility and preventing Iraq's nuclear weapons development program. The operation involved 8 F-16 fighters and 6 F-15 Eagles, completing a 2,200 km round trip mission.

August 19, 1981

Gulf of Sidra Incident

US F-14 Tomcats engaged and shot down two Libyan Su-22 fighters over disputed waters in the Gulf of Sidra, challenging Libya's territorial claims and the 'Line of Death' declaration.

May 1, 1982

Operation Black Buck

Operation Black Buck was a series of British long-range bombing raids during the 1982 Falklands War, covering an unprecedented 8,000-mile round trip from Ascension Island to strike Argentine positions in the Falkland Islands.

April 15, 1986

Operation El Dorado Canyon

A significant U.S. military air strike against Libya on April 15, 1986, ordered by President Ronald Reagan in response to Libya's involvement in the Berlin discotheque bombing. The operation involved 18 F-111F bombers targeting multiple military facilities across Libya.

February 24, 1996

Brothers to the Rescue Shootdown

On February 24, 1996, Cuban MiG-29 fighters shot down two civilian aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue over international waters between Cuba and Florida, killing four Americans. The incident sparked international outrage and led to significant diplomatic consequences between the United States and Cuba.