This Week in History: June 22 - 26

  • Published
  • By John Murphy
  • 436th AW Historian
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  June 26, 1917: Pilot trainees from the DuPont flying school conducted a 'mock' aerial bombing on the city of Wilmington, Del. Instead of munitions, these aerial students dropped handbills from their aircraft advertising enlistment opportunities in the U.S. Army Air Corps. 

June 26, 1948: The Berlin Airlift, also known as Operation Vittles, began in response to aid over 2 million people suffering as a result of a ground blockade imposed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic on Berlin. This humanitarian operation transported over a half a million tons of food and one and a half tons of coal, employing over a half a million sorties. The US and England lost 25 C-47 Skytrain aircraft during this operation. 

June 26, 1960: A C-133 Cargomaster operated by the 39th Air Transport Squadron flew non-stop from Hickam Air Base, Hawaii, to Dover, Del, in 15 hours and 25 minutes; a first for a Dover C-133.