1915 – Birth of Kaj Birksted, Danish World War II flying ace with the Royal Air Force and Danish high-ranking officer post-WWII.
1953 – First flight of the SNCASO Trident (shown), a French mixed power prototype interceptor.
1955 – Trans-Canada Airlines introduced the Vickers Viscount airliner into regular service, making it the first North American airline to use turbine power aircraft.
1965 – Operation Rolling Thunder begins, a massive air campaign against North Vietnam by the U.S.
1982 – Death of James Donald Innes Hardman, British World War I flying ace, World War II high-ranking officer and chief of the air staff (CAS) of the Royal Australian Air Force post-WWII.
2012 – The last departure of an official Continental Airlines flight takes place at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time as Continental Flight 1267 departs Phoenix, Ariz., bound for Cleveland, Ohio. On this day, Continental disappears into United Airlines, completing the two airlines ’ 2010 merger; Continental had operated since 1934.
