Week of 4-10 Oct

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of October 4th through the 10th --   This week, back in 1954 -- The first briefing for the Secretary of the Air Force and staff with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the architect of the Air Force Academy, takes place in Washington D.C.  Discussion focused on preliminary planning.  The site for the airfield was resolved at the meeting.  …Also this week, back in 1975 -- The Cessna T-37 Tweety Bird aircraft replaces the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star for Academy orientation flights at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.  The T-33...

Continue Reading Week of 4-10 Oct

Week of 27 Sep – 3 Oct

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of September 27th through October 3rd --  This week, back in 1954 -- The Secretary of the Air Force authorizes the Superintendent to form an Air Force Academy Athletic Association to obtain funds for an athletic program.  …Also this week, back in 1983 -- Former Soviet Major General Petro Grigorenko begins a two-day speaking tour at the Academy.  General Grigorenko was a decorated World War II veteran and the only general officer to be expelled from the Soviet Union, for publicly criticizing the administration of Nikita Khrushchev.  …And, this...

Continue Reading Week of 27 Sep – 3 Oct

Week of Sept 20 – 26

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of September 20th through the 26th --  This week, back in 1952 -- Flying an F-86 Sabre, Captain Robinson Risner destroys two MiG-15 aircraft, becoming the 20th ace of the Korean War.  Retired Brigadier General Risner is the exemplar for the Class of ’21.  …Also this week, back in 1958 -- Headquarters United States Air Force Academy publishes General Order Number 32, establishing the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery.  Less than a week later, on 28 September, the first funeral was held at the facility, for Lieutenant...

Continue Reading Week of Sept 20 – 26

Week of Sept 13-19

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of September 13th through the 19th --  This week, back in 1966 -- Captain John Stackhouse, Class of ’61, is killed when his F-4C aircraft crashes on takeoff from Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand.  His name appears on the Graduate War Memorial on the Academy Terrazzo.  …Also this week, back in 1975 -- The Denver Nuggets begin a two-week pre-season training visit to the Academy.  The team’s appearance was very popular with cadets and staff and stimulated community interest in Academy activities.  …And, this week back in...

Continue Reading Week of Sept 13-19

Week of Sept 6 – 12

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of September 6th through the 12th --  This week, back in 1969 -- The world premiere of the comedy program “Here’s Lucy - Lucy Goes to the Air Force Academy” takes place in Arnold Hall.  Lucille Ball and other actors in the program attended the event.  The two-part show would air later in September on CBS.  …Also this week, back in 1985 -- Lieutenant General Robert Springer, Air Force Inspector General, speaks in the Arnold Hall Theater.  His appearance was part of the Cadet Commanders’ Leadership Enrichment Seminar.  …And,...

Continue Reading Week of Sept 6 – 12

Week of Aug 30 – Sept 5

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of Aug 30th through September 5th --  This week, back in 1958 -- The movement of cadets from Lowry Air Force Base in Denver to the Academy’s permanent site continues.  This group consisted primarily of cadets who had recently completed summer courses at Lowry.  …Also this week, back in 1983 -- General Richard Cavazos delivers the first Commandant’s Leadership Series speech of the academic year.  General Cavazos, Commander of U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Georgia, spoke on the topic “Leadership in War and Peace.”  …And, this...

Continue Reading Week of Aug 30 – Sept 5

Week of 23-29 August

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of Aug 23rd through the 29th --  This week, back in 1962 -- The Academy begins hosting the Fourth Annual National Model Rocket Championships.  More than 100 contestants from all parts of the country participated.  …Also this week, back in 1983 -- The final reunion of the Lafayette Flying Corps of World War I begins at the Academy. Three of the eight surviving members attended the three-day event. In addition, five American aces from World War I attended. Participants ranged in age from 86 to 94 years old....

Continue Reading Week of 23-29 August

Week of 16-22 August

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of Aug 16th through the 22nd --  This week, back in 1948 -- General Muir Fairchild, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force and later the namesake of the Academy’s academic building, officially designates Air University as responsible for planning for an Air Force Academy.  …Also this week, back in 1959 -- Major General William Stone becomes the Academy’s third Superintendent, taking the reins from Major General James Briggs, who was promoted to Lieutenant General and assumed command of the Air Training Command at Randolph Air Force...

Continue Reading Week of 16-22 August

Week of 9-15 August

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of Aug 9th through the 15th --  This week, back in 1965 -- Flying North American F-100D Super Sabres, the Thunderbirds fly their 1,000th show at Waukegan, Illinois.  Captain Henry Canterbury, Class of ’59, had joined the team earlier in the year.  He was the first of many Academy graduates to be members of the exclusive squadron.  …Also this week, back in 1986 -- A groundbreaking ceremony is held for the 40,000 square foot addition to Mitchell Hall.  The addition, located under the Terrazzo between Mitchell and Sijan Halls, would house formal and informal dining rooms and a 32,000 square-foot consolidated cadet issue facility.  The $7.5 million project was completed in July 1988.  …And, this week back...

Continue Reading Week of 9-15 August

Week of 2-8 August

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of Aug 2nd through the 8th --  This week, back in 1969 -- Major James Morton Jr., Class of ’60, is killed when his F-4E ‘Phantom II’ aircraft is struck by hostile fire and crashes in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.  His name appears on the Graduate War Memorial on the Academy Terrazzo.  …Also this week, back in 1986 -- The Academy hosts the first Air Force Teen Leadership Forum.  The five-day event was “designed to develop and recognize leadership and volunteer service among the youth of Air Force families.”  …And, this week back in 2001 -- For the first time, notebook computers are issued at the Academy, to members of the Class of ‘05.   …Finally, this week back in 2021 – The groundbreaking ceremony...

Continue Reading Week of 2-8 August