1891 – Birth of Alan Machin Wilkinson, British World War I fighter ace who also served in World War II.
1916 – First flight of the Breguet 14 (shown), a French biplane bomber and reconnaissance aircraft; it is the first aircraft in mass production to use large amounts of metal rather than wood in its structure.
1941 – The Royal Air Force’s No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight, nicknamed “the Rafwaffe,” is formed to evaluate captured enemy aircraft and demonstrate their characteristics to other Allied units.
1973 – Death of Alfred Hubert Roy Fedden, British engineer who designed most of Bristol Engine Co.’s successful aircraft engine designs.
1981 – Aeroflot is banned from flying to the U.S. after an earlier flight of the Soviet carrier strayed from its flight path and overflew American military installations.
2004 – China Eastern Airlines Flight 5210, a Bombardier CRJ-200LR, crashes into a park shortly after take off, killing all 53 and two on the ground.
