Wednesday, May 21st

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, May 21st– 

On this day, back in 1968  —  Captain Phillip Maywald, Class of ’63, flies the mission for which he would receive the Air Force Cross.  Flying an O-2A, he braved an intense and deadly barrage of hostile gunfire for more than two hours while controlling the rescue of a pilot who had been downed by antiaircraft fire deep within hostile territory in Laos.   

…Also on this day, back in 1995  —  The Academy’s SAT-B is launched on a helium-filled balloon, the precursor of the FalconSAT projects that would follow.  The mission was successful in testing an attitude-control system designed and fabricated by cadets. 

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