On This Day in Aviation History

On This Day in Aviation History

1908 – Birth of Charles “Chuck” L. Sharp, Jr., who led China National Aviation Corp. through turbulent times in China, Burma and India. He flew the first flight over the Hump (the name given by Allied pilots in World War II to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains) for resupplying the Chinese war effort of Chiang Kai-shek and the units of the U.S. Army Air Forces based in China.

1945 – U.S. Navy Consolidated PB4Y Liberators of Patrol Bombing Squadron 109 launch two Bat missiles against Japanese shipping in Balikpapan harbor in Borneo; it is the first use, 1st use of radar-guided bombs during World War II.

1965 – First delivery to an U.S. Air Force operational unit of a Lockheed C-141 Starlifter (shown above) to the 1501st Air Transport Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

1966 – American aircraft encounter Soviet-built MiG fighters in large numbers over North Vietnam.

2005 – First flight of the Cessna Citation Mustang.

2006 – Johnnie Checketts, New Zealand World War II flying ace, dies. Credited with 14.5 kills, he was awarded the U.S. Silver Star in 1944 and the Polish Cross of Valor in 1945.

Updated: April 23, 2013 — 12:22 PM
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