This Week In Military/Aviation History 8-14 March
March 7, 2010 10:25 pmWell Folks, here we are again a week older and, with luck, a day or so wiser. Boy, this economic situation is wreaking havoc with airshows so far this year. Three in the area where I am have cancelled due to economic reasons. It’s a sad thing to have happen, but what can you do? I guess that it just makes the ones that manage to still happen will be that much nicer to attend. Well, let’s start our weekly trek down History Lane, shall we? Yes, I think we shall.
Tom K. 
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8 March 1910
Mademoiselle Elise Deroche, better known under her self awarded title ‘la Baronne de Laroche’, becomes the world’s first qualified female pilot and the 36th French pilot, when she is awarded her brevet.
10 March 1910
Frenchman Emil Aubrun makes the world’s first night flights in a Blériot monoplane at Villalugano in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
William W. Gibson, of British Colombia, finishes work on the engine for the Gibson Twin-plane.
13 March 1910
The first aeroplane flight in Switzerland is made by Captain Engelhardt in a Wright A biplane from an ice covered lake at St Moritz.
12 March 1912
The French Service de l’Aéronautique de la Marine is formed.
14 March 1915
Lincoln Beachey dies when the wings break off his monoplane while he attempts a power dive from 3,000 feet at the Panama-Pacific Exhibition in San Francisco.
8 March 1917
Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the father of the rigid airship, dies of pneumonia aged 78.
12 March 1917
Revolution in Russia.
10 March 1918
The Junkers D1, an all-metal single-seat cantilever monoplane fighter, is flown as a prototype. 41 aircraft are eventually produced.
11 March 1918
The first regular international air mail is organized in Austria by A.R. von Marwil. Mail is carried in a Hansa-Brandenburg CI from Vienna to Lvov (then Lemberg) and Proskurov via Cracow. A branch service is also run from Proskurov to Odessa. The service expands on 11 July 1918 by adding Budapest to its destinations, but later collapses with the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.
14 March 1918
American aircraft of the 95th (Pursuit) squadron begin patrol flights over the Western Front, defending the River Marne from German reconnaissance aircraft. Observation patrols begin on the 19 March with aircraft of the 94th (Pursuit) squadron.
10 March 1919
The Australian Government announces a prize of £10,000 for the first flight from Great Britain to Australia by Australians, which must be completed within 720 consecutive hours by the end of the year.
Brigadier General William ‘Billy’ Mitchell becomes the United States Director of Military Aeronautics.
13 March 1922
Portuguese pilots Captain Gago Coutinho and Captain Sacadura Cabral set off on a transatlantic flight from Lisbon to Brazil flying a Fairey IIIC. They arrive on 16 June in Fairey IIID ‘Santa Cruz’, their third machine, as earlier two have been wrecked.
12 March 1925
The first Fokker FVIIa makes its maiden flight.
8 March 1926
Dr Robert H. Goddard statically tests one of his first rockets.
14 March 1927
Pan American World Airways (Pan-Am) is formed.
10 March 1934
After nine fatalities the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) internal mail services are stopped.
9 March 1935
It is announced in Germany that the Luftwaffe has been established.
13 March 1937
Italy announces a four-year expansion program for its air force.
14 March 1939
Hitler announces that Czechoslovakia has become a German Protectorate and its occupation begins the following day.
12 March 1940
Finland capitulates to Soviet invaders in the Winter War.
10 March 1943
The 14th United States Army Air Force (USAAF) is activated with Major General Clair Chennault in command.
0 March 1945
German forces, including air units, continue to attack the bridge at Remagen in an effort to eliminate this allied bridgehead over the Rhine.
9-10 March 1945
279 Marianas-based Boeing B-29s begin a new campaign of low-altitude incendiary night attacks against Japanese cities with an attack on Tokyo.
8 March 1946
The Bell Model 47 is granted the first commercial helicopter certificate to be awarded by the United States Civil Aviation Authority.
13 March 1951
Qantas Consolidated Catalina ‘Frigate Bird II’ (VH-ASA) begins a survey flight from Sydney to Chile via Ester Island and makes the airline’s first flight across the South Pacific.
10 March 1953
Two Czechoslovakian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG15 jets attack two United States Air Force (USAF) Republic F-84 Thunderjets near Bavaria.
13 March 1953
Six Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG15 jet fighters are shot down during air fighting over North Korea.
8 March 1954
The United States and Japan sign a mutual defence agreement.
11 March 1955
Pakistan International Airlines absorbs the fleet and routes of Orient Airways.
8 March 1956
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines orders twelve Lockheed Electras the first European order for American propeller-turbine engine airliners.
14 March 1956
A new version of the Northrop Scorpion twin-jet all weather fighter is in production.
The first successful launch of a Chrysler Redstone, or Jupiter, is made from Cape Canaveral. This tactical bombardment missile is developed by a team headed by Dr Wernher von Braun the designer of Germany’s V2 rocket.
9 March 1966
General de Gaulle, the President of France, announces that France is to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance.
8 March 1967
The West German Air Force announce that all the ejection seats in their Lockheed F-104G Starfighter fleet will be replaced with Martin-Baker GQ7 seats.
8 March 1974
Charles De Gaulle Airport, 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from the center of Paris and Europe’s newest international airport, is officially opened by the French Prime Minister.
9 March 1987
USAir makes public its buy-out of Piedmont Airlines for $1.59 billion.
12 March 1993
General Dynamics’ Military Aircraft Division is acquired by Lockheed in a $1.525 billion deal, which includes the highly successful F-16 fighter.
13 March 1998
Hans von Ohain, who pioneered the design of the jet engine in Germany, dies.
11 March 2001
The Lockheed Martin X-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) completes its flight test schedule, logging 73 flights and 58 hours flying time. The X-35B Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the JSF begins testing of its Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capabilities.
15 March 2001
Two hijackers, identifying themselves as Chechen rebels, seize control of a Vnukovo Airlines Tu154 with 162 passengers on board as it departs Istanbul Ataturk airport. The aircraft lands safely at Medina airport in Saudi Arabia, where the hijack is brought to an end by Saudi Special Forces, who storm the airplane, killing one of the hijackers, a passenger and a stewardess.
11March 2005
Jetsgo ceases all operations and declares bankruptcy protection.
China’s first private airline, Okay Airlines has its maiden revenue flight.
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That’s all for this week Folks. See ya in seven.
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This Week In Military/Aviation History 1-7 March
February 28, 2010 10:33 pmWell Folks, since we last spoke, we had a nice little snowstorm here to remind me of the reality of my situation and needless to say my Spring Fever is back where it belongs. Just took a couple of hours of digging out to firmly position it in the right place. I don’t have to worry about it for a long time now. Just thought you’d like to know. Well as I hunker in for another month or so, why don’t we take our weekly trip down History Lane, shall we? Yes, I think we shall.
Tom K.
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5 March 1906
The Vuia I, built by Romanian born aviator Trajan Vuia, is the first aircraft with pneumatic tires and is first tested at Montesson in France. However, the aircraft was virtually flightless. Five ‘flights’ were made of which the longest was 24 meters.
March 1911
The Aeronautica Militar Espanola is formed in Spain.
Captain Chambers of the United States Bureau of Navigation is ordered to assist in the formation of a United States Navy (USN) aviation branch.
3 March 1911
Philip O. Parmelee, with Lieutenant B. Foulois as passenger, receives radio messages and drops written messages to army units during a flight near the Mexico/Texas border.
5 March 1911
The Belgian Army Balloon Company is formed as the Compagnie des Ouviers et Aerostiers.
March 1912
The German Aviation Experimental Establishment (DVL) is established at Berlin-Adlershof.
The first seaplane competition is held at Monaco.
Structural failures lead the French government to ground Blériot monoplanes. Louis Blériot investigates and the ban is lifted after two weeks.
The Liore & Olivier aircraft company is founded by French engineers Fernand Liore and Henri Olivier.
1 March 1912
The first parachute jump from an aeroplane, a Benoist biplane, is made over Jefferson Barracks in St Louis, USA, by Captain Albert Berry.
5 March 1912
Bob Fowler completes a west to east coast-to-coast crossing of the USA, from Los Angeles to Jacksonville, after 4 months.
March 1913
The twin-engined Bolshoi Bal’tisky (The Great Baltic) or Grand RBVZ, produced by Igor Sikorsky, takes its first flight.
China orders it’s first military aircraft, 12 Caudrons, from France.
5 March 1913
The 1st Aero Squadron of the United States Army is formed.
3 March 1915
The United States National Advisory Committee is established by Congress to investigate the problems of flight and solutions to them. The organization is a forerunner to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
4 March 1915
$300,000 funding is passed by the United States Congress for the development of army aviation in 1916.
5 March 1915
Zeppelin LZ33 (L8) crashes near Ostend after being hit by gunfire over Nieuport during a mission to attack Britain.
7 March 1915
Paris comes under attack from German Zeppelins.
March 1918
The Aviation of the 1st Polish Corps is formed from the 1st Polish aviation Unit.
Ilmailuvòimat, the Finnish Air Arm, is formed.
Dr Ing Theodor von Kárman and Wilheim Zurovec complete an electrically powered helicopter in Budapest. The PKZ1 performs four tethered lift-offs, with all but one carrying three people.
3 March 1918
The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) begin airship operations with the French Astra-Torres AT1 non-rigid dirigible (steerable airship).
5 March 1918
The 2nd Balloon company is established, becoming the first United States balloon unit to serve operationally in France with American Expeditionary Force (AEF) ground forces.
March 1919
Italian Caproni aeroplanes are used to inaugurate a regular international air service between Padova and Vienna.
1 March 1919
German airline Deutsche Luft-Reederei extends its air network to Hamburg.
3 March 1919
William Boeing and Edward Hubbard use the Boeing Model CL4S to carry out the first United States international air mail service, between Seattle in America and Victoria in Canada.
5 March 1923
Igor Sikorsky, having previously escaped from Russia, forms the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation in the USA.
March 1934
A Tupolev ANT-4, piloted by A.V. Lyapidevsky, makes the first landing on ice in the Arctic, while on a rescue mission.
March 1936
The first flight test of a liquid-fuel rocket, developed by the German Wernher von Braun, ends in failure when the test Heinkel He112 explodes. The pilot Erich Warsitz is thrown clear.
4 March 1936
The world’s largest rigid airship, the German Zeppelin Company’s LZ129 ‘Hindenburg’, makes its first flight.
7 March 1936
Hitler renounces the 1925 Locano Treaty and German troops march unopposed into the Rhineland.
3 March 1939
The first Pan American World Airways Boeing 314 flying boat is named ‘Yankee Clipper’ by Mrs Franklin D. Roosevelt at a ceremony in Washington DC.
2-4 March 1943
The Battle of the Bismarck Sea: a major attempt by the Japanese to re-enforce Lae is foiled by United States Southwest Pacific Air Forces. 40,000 tons of Japanese shipping is sunk and almost 60 aircraft are destroyed.
4 March 1944
During the first United States Army Air Force (USAAF) attack on Berlin, 69 of the 660 heavy bombers deployed are lost and 11 escort fighters are shot down.
5 March 1944
Brigadier General Orde Wingate’s special force lands at ‘Broadway’ in North Burma, in a night glider (sailplane) operation.
6 March 1951
The United States Air Force (USAF) approves license production of the English Electric Canberra by the Glenn L. Martin Company, under the designation ‘B-57′. It is the first operational aircraft of non-United States design to be accepted into service with the USAF since the 2nd World War.
5 March 1953
A Polish Air Force pilot lands a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 jet and seeks political asylum on the Danish island of Bornholm.
1 March 1954
A ban on the production of military aircraft in Japan is lifted. An agreement between the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation and the Kawasaki Aircraft company gives Kawasaki the right to manufacture Lockheed F-94C Starfire jets and T-33A jets.
United States hydrogen bombs are exploded on Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
1 March 1955
A second United States Air Force (USAF) Early Warning and Control Wing becomes operational, flying Lockheed RC-121s.
2 March 1955
The Boeing Airplane Company receives its first major production contract for the KC-135 Stratotanker.
1 March 1956
Turkish airline DHY adopts the name THY-Turkish Airlines.
3 March 1959
United States Pioneer 4 space probe is launched in an attempt to obtain pictures of the Moon’s surface, while making a fly-past of about 32,200 kilometers (20,000 miles).
6 March 1965
A Sikorsky SH3A Sea King makes the first non-stop helicopter flight across North America. Taking off from the carrier USS Hornet at San Diego in California, it lands on the carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt at Jacksonville in Florida. The distance travelled is 3,405 kilometers (2,116 miles) and a new international straight-line distance record for helicopters is established.
2 March 1969
The Sud Aviation/British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) Concorde 001 Super Sonic Transport (SST) prototype makes its first flight at Toulouse, piloted by André Turcat, Sud’s chief test pilot.
2 March 1971
A change in policy means that female United States Air Force (USAF) officers can take 12 months leave from the service if they become pregnant.
3 March 1974
A McDonnell Douglas DC10 of THY Turkish Airlines crashes into forests North of Paris, killing all 346 people on board. in the world’s worst air disaster to date. The crash spread wreckage over a 7 mile radius.
1 March 1984
Braniff begins to operate a domestic airline services in the United States after a two year gap caused by bankruptcy.
3 March 2001
A Thai airways International Boeing 737-400 is destroyed while parked at Bangkok international airport. The explosion and subsequent fire occur 35 minutes before Thailand’s Prime Minister is due to board the aircraft for a flight to Chaing Mai.
6 March 2001
Northrop Grumman RQ4A Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is cleared for production and testing with the United States Air Force.
4 March 2002
Ansett (Mark II) permanently ceases operations.
5 March 2005
Steve Fossett completes the first non-stop, solo circumnavigation of the world in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, completing the trip in 67 hours and 2 minutes.
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That’s it for this week Folks. See ya in seven.
Aviation Artist Stan Stokes’ Blue Angels F18 Ride
February 27, 2010 5:08 pmThis Week In Military/Aviation History 22-28 February
February 21, 2010 10:51 pmHello Folks, seven down, a lot to go, I hope. Well, I’ll try and keep this short as you may know I tend to get blabby once I get rollin’. It seems as of late for some ungodly reason my Spring Fever is starting to overpower my Cabin Fever. Silly as it sounds. It’s not even the end of February and living all my life in the Northeast near enough to Lake Ontario to get the full benefit of Lake-effect snow, I know better, or at least I should. I guess missing out on all the fun that the Mid-Atlantic had recently has given me a false sense of security and optimism. I hope I’m not setting myself up for a big letdown. Guess we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we? Well, shall we take our weekly trip down History Lane? Yes, I think we shall.
Tom K.
Oh, being the moderator of the 1941 HAG Museum Website Message Board, it’s time I stuck in a blatant plug for the 1st Museum Event of 2010 which is being held next Saturday. Get ready….here it comes:
Help the HAG…
1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum
1st Annual Chili Cook Off & Auction
Bring your family and friends…
February 27, 2010 @12:30-3:00
Swanson Hall, Big Tree Lane, Geneseo
Here’s how it works:
To Enter the Contest: Bring a pot of your Best Chili
1st Place Prize – Airplane Ride
Or: Come to taste and vote, Everyone Welcome!
To Help the HAG: Donate an item from home or work to auction
We will “Make Some Noise” auctioning them off…all proceeds go to the HAG
FUN and Outdoor Games for the Children at 1:00
(dress them for the weather)
X-Country Skiing is welcomed… Bring your own skis
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22 February 1911
Henri Pequet and Captain W.G. Windham begin a regular airmail service between Allahabad and Naini Junction in India, to coincide with the Universal Postal Exhibition in Allahabad.
27 February 1913
Slavorosov, Caproni’s chief test pilot, flies from Milan to Rome on a tour arranged by the La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.
25 February - 25 April 1934
American airwoman Laura Ingalls undertakes a solo flight round South America, a distance of 27,359 kilometers (17,000 miles).
Swimsuit models and Warbirds…
February 17, 2010 8:02 pmThis Week In Military/Aviation History 15-21 February
February 14, 2010 9:59 pmWell Folks, that’s another seven for the history books. The Super Bowl turned out to be rather enjoyable. Now I have to pick a team to follow for next year. I do still follow the Bills, but just to see how badly they played. Who knows, next year might be different. Yeah, right. Well, enough of this, let’s move on down History Lane, shall we? Yes, I think we shall.
Tom K.
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19 February 1934
All existing air mail contracts are cancelled and the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) begins flying internal mail services.
19 February 1936
Brigadier General William ‘Billy’ Mitchell, the United States Army Air Corps’ advocate of air power, dies in the Doctor’s Hospital in New York.
19 February 1942
The first air attack on Australia takes place when Japanese bombers attack shipping in the harbor at Port Darwin.
WW II COLOR FILM : AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN THE PACIFIC
February 13, 2010 8:50 pmReview: iBomber app for iPhone
February 10, 2010 7:45 pm
iBomber is a surprisingly fun and addictive arcade style game for the iPhone. While it could in no way be considered a simulation of aerial combat it is still quite enjoyable and should appeal to most World War II aviation enthusiasts.
The game is basically a sandbox style shooter, meaning that the entire level takes place in a rectangular map with black walls preventing your egress from the gaming area. Your viewpoint is through the bomb site of an unknown type of American bomber (the menu screen suggests a B-17 Flying Fortress) in the Pacific Theater of Operations. You fly a series of missions against Japanese targets ranging from bunkers to battleships. You have an unlimited supply of 500 lb. iron bombs and occasionally you can acquire limited amounts of specialized bombs and health packs from bombed targets. The specialty bombs include multi-bombs, rocket bombs and bunker busters, each having a its own strength and weaknesses. The health packs are needed to repair the damage you receive from anti-aircraft artillery and the defensive fire of various enemy bombers. The aircraft fly at static heights and often orbit carriers and other surface installations and ships.
Game play is simple as are the controls. You only control your direction and speed with your height being fixed. Left and right turns are accomplished but turning the iPhone left or right while throttle control is achieved by tilting the unit up to slow the aircraft down. This last feature limits playability in anything except an upright manner. Playing while laying down is not recommended as throttle control is limited at that orientation. That is a minor issue however and most people would not find it to be an issue.
If you enjoy a World War II themed combat games, don’t mind the arcade style action, and are looking for a quick, fun game then iBomber is for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this game and though it is a bit pricey at $2.99 I felt it to be worth it. There is a free trial version if you want to try before you buy.
Company: Cobra Mobile
Platform: iPhone, available through iTunes
Size: 42.9mb
Rating: 9+ for infrequent/mild cartoon or fantasy violence
Price: $2.99 as of 2/10/10, Free lite version
Review By: Scott Rose
This Week In Military/Aviation History 8-14 February
February 7, 2010 6:06 pmWell Folks, I’m startin’ kinda early so I can watch the Super Bowl…..commercials. Yeah, I kinda gave up on the game itself a few years ago when the Bills made their unsuccessful runs for that ever elusive trophy. After that, nothing ever seemed the same. No matter how hard I try, I can’t find a team I’m interested in, well, at least for very long anyway. I know there have been some embarrassing Super Bowls where a team choked or never seemed to click with any success. I usually picked those to watch when I was giving the game just that one more chance. We’ll see tonight if it’s true to form for me. I hope not. I promise not to root for either team so you can enjoy the game, ’cause the team I show any interest in, without fail, loses. Well let’s juke & jive down History Lane, shall we? Yes, I think we shall.
Tom K.
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10 February 1908
The United States Army signs a contract with the Wright brothers for the construction of a Wright Model A biplane.
11 February 1913
The Chilean air service, Escuela de Aeronatica Militar, is formed.
12 February 1914
A Russian Ilya Mourometz aircraft carries sixteen passengers and a dog to a height of 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) and sets a world load-to-altitude record.
11-12 February 1917
German Leutnants Peter and Frohwein, in a DFW CV aircraft, record the first night fighting victories when they shoot down two enemy bombers at Malzeville.
8 February 1919
The first airline passengers to be carried from Paris to London are flown by a Farman F60 Goliath from Toussus-le-Noble to Kenley.
14 February 1932
A diesel-powered Lockheed Vega flown by R. Nichols at Floyd Bennet Field in New York sets a world altitude record for a diesel powered aircraft of 6,074 meters (19,928 feet).
