Aviation History

A photo of Major General Andrey Borisovich Yumashev, Soviet Air Force (1902–1988)

Andrey Borisovich Yumashev, pilot and military veteran, set a number of aviation records in the mid-1930s and thrusting the USSR into the limelight of aviation feats. His reward: He was made a Hero...

October 5, 1914 First Aerial Combat Victory

The Start of the Age of Aerial Combat

On the 5th of October, 1914, the first air to air dog fight occurred between a French Voisin III aircraft and a German Aviatik B.II aircraft. The air battle took place over France during World War...

Albert Scott Crossfield, Jr., Aeronautical Engineer and Test Pilot, 1921–2006.

The Death Dodger Pilot

This is the story of The Death Dodger Pilot, A. Scott Crossfield Jr. He became the first man to fly an airplane at twice the speed of sound (Mach 2), and had an illustrious career in aviation as bo...

Major Richard Ira Bong, United States Army Air Forces, Medal of Honor recepient.

The "Ace of Aces"

During World War II the air war was necessary to win to protect the troops on the ground. Of the many pilots swho became Aces (pilot with 5 or more aerial combat victories) arose a phenomenal pilot...

Kenneth Hunter makes repairs to the “City of Chicago” in mid-flight during their world record setting flight of 23 days.

Twenty-Three Days In The Air

In 1930 four brothers worked together to set a world endurance record for flying an airplane non-stop for 553 hours, 41 minutes and 30 seconds in a 1927 Stinson SM-1 "Detroiter" aircraft.

North American Aviation F-51D-25-NA Mustang of the 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 18th Fighter Bomber Group, Republic of South Korea, 1950.

Major Louis Joseph Sebille, USAF

Exceptional heroism in war time sometimes results in a Medal of Honor for bravery above and beyond the call of duty. Read this fascinating story of one such brave military pilot in the Korean War.

President John F. Kennedy presents the 1961 Harmon International Trophy for Aviators to A. Scott Crossfield, Joseph A. Walker, and Major Robert M. White. (L-R)

"Boy, That Was A Ride"

Robert M. White enjoyed an exceptional career in the USAF, achieving many goals including setting the World Record for altitude in a manned aircraft. He fought in three wars, was an exceptional pil...

A UH-1 helicopter on a landing pad in Vietnam

Helicopters Over Vietnam

On Novmber 9, 1967, a rescue helicopter crew heard a call for help while on their way back to base. Tired, weary, and heading home, the crew decided it was more important to help their fellow soldi...

The Freeman Field Mutiny

In 1945 a group of 101 African-American Officers challenged the "Separate But Equal" view of their base commander, resulting in the The Freeman Field Mutiny.

An F-105F Thud Wild Weasel preparing for Rolling Thunder in Vietnam 1960s

The Wild Weasel III

The F-105G Wild Weasels provide highly effective in suppressing SAM and AAA sites in North Vietnam, but not without a cost. The Wild Weasel crews were under constant danger from SAM missles and Fla...

The cockpit of a PA-11 Piper Cub aircraft like the one the boys flew on their transcontinental round trip in 1966.

Flight of Passage

Two young brothers, 17 and 15 years of age, take a Piper Cub across the United States from New Jersey to California in 1966, the first two young people to ever make that flight.

Lt. Lester J. Maitland, pilot, and Lt. Albert F. Hegenberger, navigator, chosen to successfully cross the Pacific to Hawaii

The Hegenberger System

A young aeronautical engineering US Army Air Corps pilot devised an ingenious system to guide aircraft down through inlement weather to a safe landing. His system was called the "Hegenberger System...