Archive for the 'This Week In Military Aviation History' category
Today In Military/Aviation History 30 March – 5 April
March 30, 2009 12:05 amHe’s Baaaack! Yep, yet another seven are gone. Soon there will be another month gone too. Where does this time go? I’ve spent quite a busy day on this thing today, so with your indulgence, let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Have an AB FAN week,
Take Care and Be Safe,
Tom K. 
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5 April 1907
Louis Blériot makes a brief flight in his Type V monoplane.
April 1910
The French Army forms a ‘Service Aéronautique’.
Two Japanese army officers, Captain Tokugawa and Humazo Hino, are sent to France and Germany respectively to learn to fly.
3 April 1912
American Calbriath P. Rodgers dies when he crashes into the Pacific during a Long Beach air show.
3 April 1913
The second competition for seaplanes is held in Monaco.
April 1914
The Fokker M5k is developed and becomes the prototype for the famous Fokker EIII Eindecker fighter monoplane.
The battleship USS Mississippi and the cruiser USS Birmingham become the first aircraft carriers to be used in warfare. They operate off Vera Cruz with five United States Navy (USN) seaplanes making reconnaissance flights over Mexican lines. The seaplanes are lowered over the side and take-off and land on the water.
1 April 1915
Lieutenant Roland Garros shoots down a German Albatros two-seater with the Hotchkiss machine-gun fitted to his Morane-Saulnier Type L monoplane. Steel wedge deflectors allow the bullets to pass through the propeller arc without damaging the propeller.
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Today In Military/Aviation History 23 – 29 March
March 22, 2009 10:12 pmHello Folks, well, seven more up in smoke. Speaking of up in smoke, (Blatant Segue) I hear a pack of smokes is going up $0.61 per pack. $6.10 per carton. Well, If the government can get more Folks to smoke instead of discouraging them, there would be enough revenue to go around. Ya think? Let ‘em smoke until everything clears up and THEN help ‘em to stop. Hmmmm. Maybe this is a “It sounded like a good idea at the time” dealie. I think we just better get down to some serious history, ASAP, shall we?
Have an AB FAN week,
Take Care and Be Safe,
Tom K.
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23 March 1903
The Wright brothers file a patent for an aeroplane based on their No.III glider.
26 March 1910
Plans for Aeropolis, an aerodrome at Le Bourget in France, are announced.
28 March 1910
Frenchman Henri Fabre makes the world’s first take-off from water at La Mede harbour near Marseilles. in the ‘Hydravion’, a powered seaplane.
23 March 1911
Louis Breguet flies the world’s first flight with 11 passengers a distance of 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) in his Breguet biplane.
24 March 1911
Roger Sommer flies the world’s first flight with 12 passengers a distance of 800 meters (2,625 feet) in his Sommer biplane.
29 March 1912
The French Aéronautique Militaire is reorganized into three Groupes, based in Lyon, Reims and Versailles.
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Today In Military/Aviation History 16 – 22 March
March 15, 2009 10:29 pmHello Folks, it’s that little old history poster, me! Yep, yet another week done and gone. This weekend is a rather special time for the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum in Geneseo N.Y. (I moderate their Website Message Board) The Museum has acquired a B-23 Dragon that is now with The CAF in Midland Texas. Five of our Folks are now down there disassembling the aircraft and preparing it for transit to Geneseo. If you’re interested, there are two sources for updates on this project. The Message Board I moderate, or WIX in the WIX hangar. The WIX post has the CAF update with photos and I have also posted the HAG updates in a separate post. Stop by either of these sites and check it out. Now, let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Have an AB FAN week,
Take Care and Be Safe,
Tom K.
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20 March 1910
Gaspard-Felix Tournachon, alias Nadar, the photographer and balloonist, dies. He had taken the first aerial (balloon) photographs in 1863.
17 March 1911
The Curtiss D pusher-engined biplane with a tricycle landing gear is demonstrated to the United States Army. Later it becomes their Army Aeroplane No.2.
20 March 1915
The Belgian Aviation Militaire is formed.
17 March 1917
Zeppelin LZ86 (L39) is brought down over Compiegne in France by anti-aircraft fire.
19 March 1918
While on patrol near Heligoland, Ensign Stephen Potter becomes the first United States Navy (USN) airman to shoot down a German aircraft.
21 March 1918
The German spring offensive begins and hundreds of aircraft take part in Kaiserschlacht (‘Emperor’s Battle’).
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This Week In Military/Aviation History 23 February – 1 March
February 23, 2009 10:47 amHello Folks, how was your week? Mine was kind of interesting. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. What a wake-up call (lol). Actually severe is 40 apneas (breathing stoppages) per hour. Me, I was not messing around. I averaged 70.8 apneas per hour. Tuesday I get my CPAP machine. It has a mask and I’ll have to wear the thing every night when I go to sleep. What this puppy does is it takes room air, humidifies it and pumps it back through the mask under pressure to keep your airway open and you sleep more soundly. What happens now is when my airway collapses, my brain wakes me up to start breathing again. It’s the constant sleep, wake, sleep, that doesn’t allow you to get your proper rest. It happens so fast though you don’t realize it’s going on, but you wake up loagy. Who knows, maybe I’ll stop dozing off in front of this computer screen………………………..oops, there I go again. Yes, it should be interesting. Stay tuned. In the meantime, let’s get down to some serious history, shall we ? (while I’m still awake, that is)
Have an AB FAN week,
Tom K.
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.
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.
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.
March 1913
The twin-engined Bolshoi Bal’tisky (The Great Baltic) or Grand RBVZ, produced by Igor Sikorsky, takes it’s first flight.
China orders it’s first military aircraft, 12 Caudrons, from France.
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.
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.
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).
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 He 112 explodes. The pilot Erich Warsitz is thrown clear.
26 February 1940
The United States War Department forms the United States Air Defense Command to integrate defenses against possible air attack.
25 February 1941
The Air Defense Force (PVO) is formed in the Soviet Union.
29 February 1944
5th United States Army Air Force (USAAF) aircraft support landings in the Admiralty Islands.
23 February 1945
The German Air Force sinks its last ship of the Second World War; the Henry Bacon belonging to convoy RA64.
28 February 1945
The first manned flight of the Bachem Ba 349 Natter kills the pilot, Oberleutnant Lothar Siebert. Three subsequent manned launches are successful and the aircraft is approved for operational use, although it will not see service.
24 February 1949
Termination of the Arab-Israeli war is confirmed by an Armistice signed on Rhodes.
26 February – 2 March 1949
The first non-stop round the world flight is made by the United States Air Force (USAF) B-50 ‘Lucky Lady II’, piloted by Captain James Gallagher. The aircraft is refuelled in flight four times during its 94 hour 1 minute flight and covers a distance of 37,742 kilometers (23,452 miles).
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.
26 February 1955
George F. Smith becomes the first man in the world to live after an ejection from a North American F-100 Super Sabre traveling at supersonic speed (Mach 1.05) after his controls jammed.
1 March 1955
A second United States Air Force (USAF) Early Warning and Control Wing becomes operational, flying Lockheed RC-121s.
1 March 1956
Turkish airline DHY adopts the name THY-Turkish Airlines.
25 February 1961
Paul F. Bikle, Director of NASA’s Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California pilots a Schweizer I23E glider (sailplane) to a height of 14,102 meters (46,267 feet).
29 February 1964
President Johnson reveals the existence of the Lockheed A-11 high altitude high-speed reconnaissance aircraft.
26 January 1969
Brazil’s naval air arm is re-established as an independent service. It had been absorbed by the air force in 1941.
1 March 1984
Braniff begins to operate a domestic airline services in the United States after a two year gap caused by bankruptcy.
25 February 1988
India first launches the indigenously developed Prithvi tactical missile.
23 February 1997
93 construction workers are rescued by helicopter from a burning Bangkok skyscraper, which caught fire during building work.
28 February 1998
The unmanned Ryan RQ-4A Global Hawk flies for the first time. The aircraft is intended to replace the United States Air Force’s Lockheed U-2 in the high-altitude, long-range reconnaissance role.
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That’s it for this week Folks. See ya in seven.
This Week In Military/Aviation History 2 – 8 February
February 1, 2009 10:37 pmWell Folks, did you ever notice that the only time you feel time is slowing down is when you are waiting for something to arrive? It seems forever when you check on something’s delivery date and it has still got 2-4 weeks to go. Amazing isn’t it? I don’t know why I torture myself by buying FineScale Modeler’s Great Scale Modeling special editions. I like to think I’m a pretty good modeler, but when I look at the photo and read the caption of a gorgeous looking kit and find out it’s scratch-built or enhanced with this and that, or even built straight out of the box but weathered with pastels or polished to a mirror-finish, first it inspires me to work smarter and not harder (see last week’s post) and then when that fizzles out, it puts reality right in front of my face. I don’t know how many times, even though I’m really careful, I lose one or two small parts to the rug-monster or glance at the instructions, build something, and find out my glance missed an important part and I have to try taking it apart to add what I missed. It’s always somethin’! Oh well, let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Have an AB FAN (ABsolutely FANtastic) week,
Be Safe,
Tom K.
5 February 1911
Vivian C. Walsh makes the first aeroplane flight in New Zealand in his Howard-Wright (type) biplane at Auckland.
7 February 1911
The first French flying certificate is issued to Lieutenant de Rose.
3 February 1913
The Gothaer Waggonfabrik (Gotha railway wagon factory) open an aeroplane division.
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This Week In Military/Aviation History 26 January – 1 February
January 25, 2009 11:10 pmAh Folks, it’s absolutely amazing how time flies. Here I am again, as usual, another week older, but not any smarter, unfortunately it seems I’ve always had this problem, I guess, as my boss always used to always tell me “Work smarter, not harder.” I couldn’t figure out why I was so tired when I left work. I finally figured I must not have been working any smarter, just harder. Of course, this is the same boss that impressed the bejeebers out of me when he told me what assume does…makes an ass out of u and me. That was until I saw the episode of the “Odd Couple” where this was used. Burst my bubble that did. Oh well, let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Have an AB FAN week,
Be Safe,
Tom K.
February 1910
Hugo Junkers patents an aeroplane with a cantilevered wing.
26 January 1911
Glenn Curtiss makes the first premeditated aeroplane landing on water, water taxiing and water take-off from USS Pennsylvania in San Diego Bay.
1 February 1911
Burgess and Curtiss becomes the first fully licensed aircraft manufacturer in the USA.
February 1912
Jules Vedrine makes the first 100mph flight in his Monocoque Deperdussin.
February 1913
The Spanish air arm is renamed as the Servico de Aeronautica Militar Espanola.
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This Week In Military/Aviation History 12-18 January
January 11, 2009 11:00 pmWell Folks, believe it or not, another week has just passed and here I am back again. Over at the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum we’re in the process of acquiring a B-23 Dragon from the Commemorative Air Force Force Folks in Midland, Texas. More information about this project is both on the 1941 HAG Website and the Message Board which I moderate. There is also an interesting thread going on at the WIX Hangar Forum. It’s going to be an interesting time, to say the least. This year there are a great many projects going on at the 1941 HAG Museum and we have a great need for volunteers to work on them. If you’ve got the time, we’ve got the job for you. Well, let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Have an AB FAN week,
Be Safe,
Tom K.
18 January 1905
The Wright brothers open discussions with the United States government for the sale of an aeroplane.
18 January 1906
The Zeppelin LZ2 is destroyed in a gale the day after its first flight.
13 January 1908
Henry Farman wins the Deutch-Archdeacon Prize of 50,000 francs for the first officially observed circular flight of one kilometer in Europe.
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This Week In Military/Aviation History 5 – 11 January
January 5, 2009 12:30 amHello Folks, yep, it’s that time again. Seven gone and four into 2009. It’s kinda nice that the whole year is out there so full of hope and promise. I wonder how long my optimism will hold out. Stay tuned. I made a resolution to get back into my model building hobby. I have no shortage of projects to choose from. I’m getting close to finishing a 1/32nd scale P-40 in AVG (Flying Tiger) markings. I’m also hoping to spend more time on this site this year. We’ll have to see what happens. I hope all your holidays worked out well for you and yours. Before we make more history, let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Have an AB FAN week,
Be Safe,
Tom K.
7 January 1910
Hubert Latham makes the first flight to an altitude over 1,000 metres (2,281 feet) at Chalons in France when he flies an Antoinette VII to 3,280 feet.
10 January 1910
The first United States aeroplane meeting is held at the Dominquez Field in Los Angeles and organised by the Aero Club of California.
6 January 1911
750,000 Indians watch a flying display at Calcutta by Henri Jullerot in his Military Biplane.
7 January 1911
Lieutenant Myron Sydney Crissy of the United States Army, drops the first live bomb from an aeroplane when he conducts a test drop on a target in San Francisco from a Wright biplane piloted by Philip O. Parmelee.
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This Week In Military/Aviation History 29 December – 4 January
December 29, 2008 3:47 amWell this is it, Folks, my last post of 2008. The year went fairly fast. The only time it slowed down was when I was waiting for something. It got kinda sad when we had to put our dog of 15 years down in October. I still miss him, but not as badly. I’m really looking forward to the new start a fresh year brings. Hopefully I’ll get further into the year before I start feeling nothing has changed but my age. We’ll see. Now, let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Have an AB FAN (ABsolutely FANtastic) week,
Be Safe,
Tom K.
31 December 1908
One of the Wright brothers, Wilbur Wright, wins the Michelin prize with a flight of 124 kilometers (77 miles) at Camp d’Auvours in France. The flight lasts 2 hours 20 minutes 23 seconds.
31 December 1910
John Moisant is killed when his aeroplane crashes at New Orleans.
1 January 1910
The first pilot’s licenses are issued by the Aéro Club de France. A list of 16 license holders was published in alphabetical order; unfortunately it missed out Charles Voisin (the first man to fly in France) and included some people who had never flown at all!
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This Week In Military/Aviation History 1 – 7 December
November 30, 2008 11:32 pmHello Folks, seven more gone, Thanksgiving and “Black Friday” also gone. The Christmas Season is now officially on. Thanks to my better half, I spent the last two days watching Christmas Movie after Christmas movie on the Hallmark Channel and the ABC Family Channel. This was only ’cause I gave up watching football. I stopped when I realized the players were only in it for the money and fame and no longer for the love of the game. Same with baseball. Oh well, my choice. Let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Have an AB FAN week,
Take Care and Be Safe,
Tom K.
5 December 1909
Florence Taylor became the world’s first woman glider (sailplane) pilot when she flew her husband’s home-built aircraft at Narrabeen Beach in New South Wales, Australia.
December 1910
In India, the British Army is impressed by a demonstration of three biplanes by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company.
3 December 1910
Gaston Cugnet crashes his Blériot monoplane while demonstrating it at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
5 December 1912
In an effort to encourage the development of seaplanes, Frenchman Jacques Schneider announces that he will sponsor an international competition.
4 December 1914
The German Navy forms its first seaplane unit.
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