United States Air Force Academy

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Friday, January 2nd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, January 2nd —  

On this day, back in 1967 — Colonel Robin Olds leads Operation Bolo, a mission to lure North Vietnamese MiG-21 “Fishbed” fighters into combat with F-4 “Phantom II’s” by simulating the flight patterns and electronic signatures of the F-105 “Thunderchief.”  The ruse, which Olds designed, was successful as he shot down a MiG-21, becoming the only U.S. Air Force ace with victories in World War II and Vietnam.  Colonel Olds, exemplar for the Academy Class of ’11, went on to become the Academy’s Commandant of Cadets later in 1967.  

…Also on this day, back in 2008 — The Cadet Chorale sings the National Anthem at the Fiesta Bowl football game held at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. 

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