Wednesday, December 31st

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, December 31st --  On this day, back in 1908 -- Wilbur Wright flies 77 miles in two hours, 20 minutes, and 23 seconds at Le Mans, France, to set a record for duration and distance, winning the Michelin Trophy and $4,000.  The Wright Brothers are the exemplars for the Academy Class of ’15.  …Also on this day, back in 1982 -- The Air Force Falcons football team earns its first bowl win, beating Vanderbilt 36-28 in the Hall of Fame Bowl in Birmingham, Alabama.  This was the Academy’s fourth trip to a bowl game, and the 125th victory in program history. ...

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Tuesday, December 30th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, December 30th --  On this day, back in 1976 -- Headquarters Air Force directs a change in the proportion of Academy graduates who should be expected to attend pilot training.  The target for entrants to be pilot qualified was reduced from 70 percent to 60 percent for the Class of ’81 and subsequent classes.  …Also on this day, back in 2000 -- The Wings of Blue jump team wins the 2000 National Collegiate Parachuting Championships, its fifth victory in a row.  The competition took place in Lake Wales, Florida.  Cadet Marion Knapp, Class of ’01, was the overall champion.  …for the latest video for...

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Monday, December 29th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, December 29th --  On this day, back in 1972 -- President Richard Nixon halts Operation Linebacker II, the bombing of North Vietnam north of the 20th parallel.  This effectively brought an end to American involvement in the Vietnam War.  A peace treaty would be signed in January 1973, and over the following two months, American Prisoners of War, including 30 Academy graduates, would be released.  …Also on this day, back in 2016 -- The Academy lacrosse team is ranked number 18 in Inside Lacrosse’s preseason rankings.  The ranking marked Air Force’s first appearance in a national preseason poll.  …for the business-focused social media side of...

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Weekend of December 27th and 28th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the weekend of December 27th & 28th --  On this weekend, back in 1942 -- Second Lieutenant Richard Bong, exemplar for the Academy Class of ’03, records his first two aerial victories, against the Japanese in the Pacific.  He would go on to be America’s leading ace of all time and receive the Medal of Honor.  He recorded all of his kills in the Lockheed P-38 “Lightning” aircraft.  …Also on this weekend, in 2021 -- The Air Force football team plays Louisville in the First Responders Bowl at Gerald R. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas.  The Falcons won by a score of 31-28, finishing the season with a 10-3 record.  …all content for the Academy...

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Friday, December 26th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, December 26th --   On this day, back in 1972 – 120 B-52 “Stratofortress” bombers participate in Operation Linebacker II strikes over North Vietnam. 78 launched from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam which served as then Strategic Air Command’s largest combat launch. Overall, two Academy graduates were killed in B-52 crashes during the campaign.  …Also on this day, back in 1983 -- Fisher DeBerry becomes head football coach.  During his 23-year career, his teams would win an Academy record 169 games.  … For more information about what’s coming up and what’s going down at the Academy, listen to our cadet radio station by picking up the free KAFA mobile app, available for Apple and Android.  

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Thursday, December 25th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, December 25th -- On this day, back in 1958 -- The first Christmas midnight services at the Academy’s permanent site are held, both in the academic building.  The Protestant service in F-1 was officiated by Chaplains Charles Carpenter and Freddie Carlock while Chaplain Constantine Zielinski officiated at the Catholic service in H-1.   Also on this day, in 1998 -- The Academy football team beats the Washington Huskies 45-25 in the Oahu Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii.  …for a behind-the-scenes look at cadet life, follow us on Instagram at AF_Academy and from all of us at KAFA, Happy Holidays! 

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Wednesday, December 24th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, December 24th --  On this day, back in 1960 -- The combined Cadet Chorale and Choir perform an hour-long show in Arnold Hall that was televised by KOA-TV Channel 4 in Denver and KCSJ-TV Channel 5 in Pueblo.  …Also on this day, back in 1972 -- “Diamond Lil,” the B-52D “Stratofortress” displayed at the Academy, becomes one of two B-52Ds credited with a confirmed MiG kill in the Vietnam conflict.  During the bombing mission out of U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield in southern Thailand, the bomber’s tail gunner, Airman First Class Albert Moore, shot down a MiG-21 “Fishbed” northeast of Hanoi during “Linebacker II”...

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Tuesday, December 23rd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, December 23rd --  On this day, back in 1964 -- The Advisory Panel appointed by the Secretary of the Air Force to oversee construction of new facilities needed as the result of the expansion in the size of the Cadet Wing meets for the first time.  The Panel would convene nineteen times, the final session occurring on July 25, 1970.  …Also on this day, back in 2023 -- The Academy football team earns its fifth straight bowl victory by defeating James Madison 31-21 in the Armed Forces Bowl.  The game was played at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.  …for the latest video for cadets, by...

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Monday, December 22nd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, December 22nd --  On this day, back in 2006 -- Troy Calhoun, Class of ’89, is hired as head football coach.  He was the first Air Force Academy graduate to be head football coach at Air Force.  …Also on this day, back in 2022 -- The Academy football team defeats Baylor 30-15 in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.  The Falcons finished the season with a 10-3 record.  Fullback Brad Roberts, Class of ’23, rushed for 116 yards, giving him 1,728 yards for the season.  That total set a school single season record and was the most in the NCAA in 2022.  …for...

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Weekend of December 20th and 21st

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the weekend of December 20th & 21st --  On this weekend, back in 1972 -- Captain Craig Paul, Class of ’69, is reported missing when his B-52G “Stratofortress” aircraft is struck by one or two surface-to-air missiles and crashes northwest of Hanoi during an operational mission supporting Operation “Linebacker II” in North Vietnam.  His status was changed to killed in action on October 26, 1977.  His name appears on the Graduate War Memorial on the Academy Terrazzo.  …Also on this weekend, in 2014 -- The Academy Military Training NCO career field is officially created.  These enlisted individuals, known as AMTs, were assigned to each Cadet Squadron to provide role models for cadets.  …all content for the Academy History Update is provided by Retired Lt Col...

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