American Aviation Historical Society

1916

The first all-American air squadron in Europe is formed at the French spa town of Luxevil-les-Bains. Nieuport Squadron Nº 124, unofficially know as the "Escadrille Américaine" [American Squadron], is composed of volunteers who will be under the command of a French captain, Georges Thénault.

1917

William E. Boeing’s Pacific Aero Products Company is renamed the “Boeing Airplane Company.”

1933

Wreckage of Akron located by divers from the submarine rescue ship Falcon.

1942

Col James Doolittle led 16 B-25’s on Tokyo raid

1952

The biggest jet airline ever built, the Convair YB-60, makes a successful first flight at Carswell Air Force Base at Fort Worth, Texas.

1955

During AEC atomic tests in Nevada, three pilotless Lockheed QF-80 drones fly through the nuclear blast area carrying sampling pods.

1958

US Navy Lieutenant-Commander George Watkins flies from Edwards Air Base in California to a world record absolute altitude within the atmosphere of 76,932 feet in a Grumman F11F-1 Tiger.