AF.mil - Heritage

D-Day 65th Anniversary

This is the 65th anniversary of one of the greatest joint land, sea and air operations in history. On June 6, 1944, Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the approval to launch. His decision was an agonizing one; weather was treacherous, but circumstances dictated a high tide and a short time span. Further delays would have given away the plan, known as Operation Overlord -- D-Day to everyone else.

More

This Week in History

June 7, 1911
The first air medical officer, Lt. John P. Kelly of the Medical Reserve Corps, was assigned to Signal Corps Aviation Field at College Park, Md.

June 7, 1912
With Lt. Thomas D. Milling flying a Wright B, Capt. Charles D. Chandler became the first person to fire a machine gun from an airplane in the U.S. Col. Isaac N. Lewis designed the ground-type gun for mounting on aircraft.

June 7, 1912
A machine gun first fired from an airplane in the United States.

June 7, 1944
Transport aircraft dropped 356 tons of supplies to Allied forces during Operation Overlord.

More Milestones

Heritage Highlights

- 1st Fighter Wing
- 15th Airlift Wing
- 1st Special Operations Wing
- 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing
- 59th Medical Wing
- 17th Training Wing
- 552nd Air Control Wing
- 50th Space Wing
- 51st Fighter Wing
- 67th Network Warfare Wing
- 31st Fighter Wing
- 509th Bomb Wing
- Air Force Flight Test Center

Spotlights

Multiple aerial refuelings

The first jet ace

Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.

Heritage News

Women's History Month: Recalling women in uniform

Command chief discusses Women's History Month

Altus Airmen honor women of past, look to future

Women's History Month: All-female crew supports warfighters

Women's History Month: Model As, earrings and machine guns

AF mourns the loss of first chief master sergeant of the Air Force

Post commemorates 99th anniversary of first military flight

Chief of staff pays tribute to heritage

C-5M flies in on the wings of Dover AFB heritage

Inside AF.mil


	Advanced Search

Categories

Home
Overview
Early Years (1903-1939)
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s-1980s
1990s
Features
Spotlights
Photos
Art
Other History Sites

Disclaimer

This section is dedicated to the men and women who made the U.S.Air Force what it is today. The people, events and equipment of the past are integral to understanding the future. The various subsections provide an overview of the Air Force's heritage, important people, airpower, images, milestones and art. For more in depth coverage of Air Force history go to our links page and visit some of these specialized sites.