Friday, May 30th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, May 30th-  On this day, back in 1959 -- The Thunderbirds (U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron) makes its first flight at the Academy campus in Colorado Springs.  The show was part of Graduation Week festivities for the Academy’s first graduation, which would take place on June 3rd 1959.  …Also on this day, back in 2002  --  Academy football coach Fisher DeBerry is inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.  DeBerry, coached the Air Force football team for 23 seasons, from 1984 to 2006, leading them to...

Continue Reading Friday, May 30th

Thursday, May 29th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, May 29th-  On this day, back in 1958  --  The first Ring Dinner and Ring Dance are held.  They were among many traditions adopted from West Point and Annapolis.  …Also on this day, back in 2014  --  The fourth telescope in the Academy’s Falcon Telescope Network is installed in Australia.  The Canberra-Falcon Telescope was the second Academy telescope observatory in the Southern Hemisphere and the first in Australia.  The site was developed in collaboration with the University of New South Wales, Canberra, and Electro Optics Systems.    …for recent...

Continue Reading Thursday, May 29th

Wednesday, May 28th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, May 28th-  On this day, back in 1980 -- A ninety-minute special, “Bob Hope’s All-Star Comedy Birthday at the Air Force Academy: A USO Salute,” airs on NBC one day before Hope’s 77th birthday.  The concert, recorded at Falcon Stadium on May 18th, featured guest stars Diana Ross, Andy Gibb, Barbara Mandrell, and Loni Anderson.  Former astronaut Alan Shepard also made an appearance.  …Also on this day, back in 2022 -- The Academy baseball team defeats San Jose State 8-3 to win the Mountain West Tournament.  It was the...

Continue Reading Wednesday, May 28th

Tuesday, May 27th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, May 27th- On this day, back in  1970  --  Captain George Keller, Class of ’65, is killed when his F-4D “Phantom II” aircraft is hit by ground fire and crashes during an operational mission in Cambodia.  His name appears on the Graduate War Memorial on the Academy Terrazzo. …Also on this day in 2021  --  Brigadier General Paul “Max” Moga, Class of ’95, becomes the Commandant of Cadets during a change-of-command ceremony on the Stillman Parade Field.  He succeeded Major General Michele Edmondson, who moved stations to Keesler Air...

Continue Reading Tuesday, May 27th

Monday, May 26th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for “Memorial Day” Monday, May 26th- On this day, back in 1984 -- Cadet Gail Conway, Class of ’84, wins the 800-meter dash at the NCAA Division II National Championships.  Conway also won the 400-meter national title in 1983, and was a six-time All-American. …Also on this day, back in 2010 -- The Class of 2010, with 1,006 members, graduates.  Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered the commencement address, becoming the first chairman to do so. …for the business-focused social media side of the Academy, follow us on...

Continue Reading Monday, May 26th

Weekend of May 24th and 25th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Weekend of May 24th and 25th-  On this day, back in 2006 -- A fast-moving grass fire burns 361 acres of foothills near the Academy’s southern boundary.  Approximately 200 Academy and local firefighters and an air tanker responded, getting the fire under control within four hours.  More than 40 horses were evacuated from the Academy Equestrian Center, but no injuries or structural damage occurred.  …Also this weekend, back in 2022 -- The Class of ’22 graduates in Falcon Stadium.  The Secretary of Defense, Retired Army General Lloyd Austin III...

Continue Reading Weekend of May 24th and 25th

Friday, May 23rd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, May 23rd- On this day, back in 1981 -- The Outstanding Squadron Banquet is held at the Broadmoor. Retired General Russell Dougherty was the emcee, while actor Charlton Heston was the guest speaker. Cadet Squadron 4 was the honor squadron. …Also on this day, back in 2001 -- Callie (Calhoun) Molloy, Class of ’91, is inducted into the NCAA Division II Track and Field Hall of Fame. She won five NCAA national championships in track, with an additional win in cross country. The presentation took place on the tenth...

Continue Reading Friday, May 23rd

Thursday, May 22nd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, May 22nd-  On this day, back in 1990  --  Air Force Special Operations Command is established at Hurlburt Field, Florida.  Major General Thomas Eggers, Class of ’64, was its first commander.    …Also on this day, back in 2021  --  Virgin Galactic makes its first rocket-powered flight to the fringe of space in a manned shuttle.  Departing from New Mexico, the vehicle reached Mach 3 and an altitude of more than 55 miles above the Earth.  Lieutenant Colonel Kelly Latimer, Class of ’87, and Michael Masucci, Class of ’85,...

Continue Reading Thursday, May 22nd

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...

Continue Reading Wednesday, May 21st

Tuesday, May 20th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, May 20th  On this day, back in 1951 -- Captain James Jabara becomes America's first jet ace when he scores his 5th and 6th victories in MiG Alley during the Korean War.  In 1967, the Academy and the Association of Graduates established The Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship.    …Also on this day, back in 2013 -- Major Rob Marshall, Class of ’01, and three airmen summit Mount Everest in Nepal.  At 29,032 feet above sea level (more than twice as high as Pikes Peak), the top of the...

Continue Reading Tuesday, May 20th