News

  • Remains of fighter pilot hero return home after 10 years

    This week, nearly 10 years after he was killed in combat operations in Iraq, U.S. forces brought home the remains of F-16 pilot Maj. Troy Gilbert, who died saving the lives of U.S. service members and coalition allies.

  • This week in history: Dec. 7 - 11

    Dec. 11, 1965: A C-141 named the 'First State Starlifter,' completed the longest non-stop flight ever logged by a Dover-based C-141 when it flew from Yokota Air Base, Japan, to Dover Air Force Base. The aircrew completed the nearly 7,000 mile trip in 13 hours and 10 minutes.Dec. 12, 1967: Citizens

  • This week in history: Nov. 30 - Dec. 4

    Dec. 3, 1953     The 1607th Air Transport Wing flew its first C-54 Skymaster mission from Dover Air Force Base.Nov. 30, 1974    The new Dover Air Force Base Air Freight Terminal was completed and opened for operation. Final cost of the construction project was $5,246,700.Dec. 2, 1974     

  • This week in history: Nov. 23 - 27

    Nov. 27, 1941      Civil Air Patrol was founded one week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This all-volunteer force flew 24 million miles of coastal patrol during World War II. Duties included sub-spotting, target-towing, aiding distressed ships, and courier duty. In 1948 Congress made

  • This Week in History

    Oct. 16, 1968 A fire in military family housing caused extensive damage to the home of then 436th Military Airlift Wing Commander Brig. Gen. John B. Wallace. Oct. 13, 1973 Dover aircrews began airlifting aid to Israel in support of Operation NICKLE GRASS. This short-notice emergency airlift lasted a

  • This week in history: 30 Aug. - 5 Sept.

    31 August 1910: Mr. Robie Seidinger produced Delaware's first aeroplane, the "Delaplane" in Wilmington. A year earlier, Mr. Enoch S. LaFerve and Mr. W.D. LaFerve of Dover, Delaware, patented their own flying ship. However, no evidence exists that this machine was ever built or flown; but it did show

  • This week in history: July 29 - August 1

    July, 29 1931: A state of Delaware-built Bellanca J aircraft, named the Cape Cod flew from New York to Istanbul, Turkey, non-stop. Two American pilots completed this new long distance record by navigating over 5,001 miles in 49 hours and 15 minutes. The Cape Cod monoplane consisted of a single

  • This week in history: July 19 - 25

    July 21, 1917: Allen Smith became the State of Delaware's first aerial training casualty. He crashed and perished while attempting an unauthorized flight over the Delaware River. July 25, 1958: The new Dover Air Force Base Non-Commissioned Officer's Club officially opened its doors for the first

  • This Week in History: July 13 - 17

    July 15, 1895: The U.S. Army established the Post Exchange system. This system evolved into the U.S. Army Exchange Service in 1941 and then into the Army Air Force Exchange Service in 1950. July 13, 1967: The Airlifter began printing a new weekly feature. The 'Word from the Wing' article began