Week of 25-31

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of October 25th through the 31st --   This week, back in 1957 -- The Secretary of the Air Force and School District 20 sign a 99-year lease that grants the use of land for construction of three dependent school facilities on the Academy: two elementary schools and one secondary school.  …Also this week, back in 1986 -- The new wave group Berlin performs in the Arnold Hall Theater.  They had a hit song, “Take My Breath Away,” that was featured in the 1986 film “Top Gun” and won...

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Week of Oct 18-24

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of October 18th through the 24th --   This week, back in 1922 -- Army Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, namesake of the cadet dining hall and exemplar for the Class of ‘01, becomes the first U.S. military pilot to hold a recognized absolute speed record.  He set a mark of 222.97 miles per hour in the Curtiss R-6 aircraft at Selfridge Field, Michigan.  This was also the first time that the world speed record was certified outside of France.  …Also this week, back in 1962 -- The formal Presentation...

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Week of 11-17 Oct

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of October 11th through the 17th --   This week, back in 1965 -- Representatives of 39 allied nations visit the Academy, led by French Air Force Major General Michael Dorance, dean of the Air Attaché Corps.  The delegation included attachés from every part of the globe.  …Also this week, back in 1988 -- Sir Harry Hinsley of Cambridge University, a British historian and authority on wartime intelligence and naval warfare, presents the 31st Harmon Memorial Lecture, entitled “World War II: An Intelligence Revolution.”  The speech was part of...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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