Week of 5-11 July

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of Jul 5th through the 11th — 

This week, back in 1961 — Lieutenant General Mike Lee, Commander, Air Defense Command, presents the Academy with a Bomarc missile during a ceremony at the Visitor Center near the South Gate where it was put on display. 

…Also this week, back in 1989 — President George H. W. Bush presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, to Retired Air Force General James Doolittle during a White House ceremony. General Doolittle, the namesake of the Academy Association of Graduates’ headquarters building and exemplar for the Class of ’00, was the only person to have received both the military Medal of Honor and the civilian Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

…And, this week back in 2008 –– The closure of the Academy’s Aardvark Auxiliary Airfield runway is approved. The strip was located north of the North Gate. 

…Finally, this week back in 2021 — A Virgin Galactic craft makes a rocket-powered flight to the fringe of space with Virgin Galactic owner Richard Branson aboard. Michael Masucci, Class of ’85, was one of the two pilots who flew the vehicle on its sub-orbital test flight. The craft reached the altitude of 53.5 miles, 3.5 miles above what NASA and FAA consider the “boundary” of space. 

…for the latest video for cadets, by cadets, follow us on YouTube @ USAFAOfficial.