Thursday, September 25th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, September 25th —  

On this day, back in 1918 — First Lieutenant Edward Rickenbacker, exemplar of the Class of ’04, attacks seven enemy aircraft, shooting down two of them near Billy, France, and earns the first Medal of Honor given for air activity.  Captain Rickenbacker would go on to be the leading American ace of World War I. 

Also on this day, in 1997 — The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  Michael Bloomfield, Class of ‘81, was the pilot for mission STS-86. 

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