Monday, August 25th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, August 25th --  On this day, back in 1958 — President Dwight Eisenhower signs a letter to Major General James Briggs, Academy Superintendent, sending “warm greetings” and “congratulations” as the Academy makes the move from Lowry Air Force Base to its permanent site in Colorado Springs.  Eisenhower wrote, “Over the years, as succeeding classes graduate, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs will be a continuing source of needed strength for our country.”  …Also on this day, back in 2009 — The Air Force Academy Facebook page is created....

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Weekend of August 23rd & 24th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the weekend of August 23rd & 24th   On this weekend, back in 1968 — Captain Harreld Martin, Class of ’62, is killed during a hostile rocket attack on Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam.  His name appears on the Graduate War Memorial on the Academy Terrazzo.  …Also on this weekend, back in 2019 — Former Academy tennis player Second Lieutenant Isaac Perez, Class of ’19, is one of ten recipients of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s 2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award.  The award was presented at the...

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Friday, August 22nd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, August 22nd-  On this day, back in 1923 — At Wright Field, Ohio, Lieutenants Harold Harris and Muir Fairchild fly the XNBL-1 Barling Bomber, the Army’s first long-range night bomber, on its first flight.  Fairchild is the namesake of the Academy’s academic building.  …Also on this day, back in 2014 — The fifth telescope in the Academy’s Falcon Telescope Network is installed at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.  The PSU-Falcon was the first Academy telescope observatory in the eastern region of the United States.  The site was...

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Thursday, August 21st

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, August 21st –   On this day, back in 1961 — The first Air Force Academy Preparatory School students, known as cadet candidates, report for training.  The initial class consisted of 200 men, 76 of whom came from the regular Air Force. The school was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Lee Black.  …Also on this day, back in 2013 — Eli Bremer, Class of ‘00, competes in the modern pentathlon at the Beijing Olympics, finishing in 22nd place.  The event consisted of fencing, freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross...

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Wednesday, August 20th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, August, 20th –  On this day, back in 1988 — Cadet Jocelyn Taylor, Class of ’92, is recognized as the Civil Air Patrol Cadet of the Year at the organization’s national board meeting in Washington D.C.  …Also on this day, back in 2008 — The Minuteman III missile is removed from the area in front of the Cadet Field House.  The static display had stood at that location since December 1971.  The deterioration of the missile body and the presence of asbestos forced its removal and precluded its being...

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Tuesday, August 19th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, August 19th--  On this day, back in 1968 — Construction on the 25,000 square foot Academy Hospital addition begins.  The expansion would include outpatient clinics and auxiliary medical services.  Colonel Ralph Embrey, Academy Chief of Staff, turned the first shovel of dirt to signify the official groundbreaking, using the same shovel that had been used for the hospital’s original groundbreaking in 1959.  …Also on this day, back in 1994 — The two-day Cadet Commanders’ Leadership Enrichment Seminar begins at the Colorado Springs Embassy Suites hotel.  …for the latest video...

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Monday, August 18th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, August 18th --  On this day, back in 1961  — The final piece of aluminum is placed on the Academy Chapel exterior.  Only the placing of spire caps and the installation of windows remained.  …Also on this day, back in 1994 — A ceremony takes place outside Doolittle Hall.  The Association of Graduates’ headquarters building’s flagpole and immediate surrounding area were dedicated in honor of Captain Barbara Ann (Holcroft) Yost, Class of ’82.  She died while serving in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the Academy in 1989.  …for...

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Weekend of August 16th and 17th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the weekend of Saturday, August 16th & Sunday, August 17th  On this weekend, back in 2005 — Fisher DeBerry Day is observed in Colorado Springs, by declaration of Mayor Lionel Rivera.  Coach DeBerry was the Falcons’ head football coach from 1983 until his retirement in 2006.  …Also on this weekend, back in 1970 — Captains Steven Melnick and James Wood, both members of the Class of ’65, are killed when their F-4E “Phantom II” aircraft crashes after encountering anti-aircraft fire during a night strike mission southwest of Da Nang, South...

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Friday, August 15th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, August 15th --  On this day, back in 1968 — A Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile goes on temporary display at the Academy’s Visitor Center.  In December 1971, a Minuteman III missile static display would be dedicated in front of the Cadet Field House and would remain there until 2008.  …Also on this day, back in 2021 — Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Calderon, Class of ’05, and his four-person C-17A Globemaster III crew fly the mission for which they would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  They evacuated Americans and their...

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Thursday, August 14th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, August 14th –   On this day, back in 2001 — The Athletic Department breaks ground on the Falcon Athletic Center building, situated between the Cadet Gymnasium and the Field House.  The four-story facility, part of a $30.1 million project, would include office and display space, as well as a weight room for intercollegiate athletes.  …Also on this day, back in 2013 — Cadet William Kent, Class of ’14, an Academy track and field athlete, wins the NCAA Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award.  During a meet that February, Kent saw that...

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