Commemorative Air Force

On 18 May 1953, Captain Joseph C. McConnell Jr. of the United States Air Force became the leading American ace of the Korean War with 16 victories between 14 January and 18 May, 1953. On his last day of combat in Korea, he shot down three MiG-15 fighters on two sorties, raising his total to sixteen confirmed aerial victories. He was flying an F-86 Sabre with the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing. On one of those sorties, he and his wingman alone attacked a formation of 28 MiG-15s. While they broke up the formation and he downed one MiG and damaged another, a third was on the tail of his wingman. Despite being under fire himself, he destroyed the MiG attacking his wingman for his second victory that day. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions. His third victory of the day came on a separate afternoon sortie. Joseph Christopher McConnell Jr. was born on 30 January 1922 in Dover, New Hampshire, and grew up during the Great Depression. He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and initially served as a B-24 Liberator navigator in Europe before transferring to pilot training. After earning his wings, he remained in the newly established United States Air Force and transitioned into jet fighters during the early Cold War period. Following the Korean War, McConnell continued serving as a fighter pilot and instructor. His combat achievements received widespread publicity, and his story later inspired the 1955 film The McConnell Story starring Alan Ladd. On 25 August 1954, while testing an F-86H Sabre near Edwards Air Force Base, California, McConnell was killed when his aircraft crashed after a control malfunction caused by a missing bolt in the flight control system. He was 32 years old.

Have you ever heard of the *OTHER* B 17? On 18 May 1940, the prototype Saab 17 made its first flight in Sweden, introducing the country’s first all-metal monoplane bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. Designed by Svenska Aeroplan AB during the tense years preceding the Second World War, the aircraft entered service in several versions, including the B 17 bomber and dive-bomber variant and the S 17 reconnaissance model used for aerial observation and maritime patrol duties. Development of the Saab 17 reflected Sweden’s determination to maintain a modern and independent air defense force despite growing instability across Europe. The aircraft incorporated advanced features for its time, including stressed-skin metal construction, retractable landing gear, and the ability to operate from wheels, skis, or floats. Its most distinctive feature was the large fixed landing gear fairings, which were deliberately shaped to function as aerodynamic dive brakes during bombing attacks, allowing the B 17 to perform controlled dive-bombing runs without the need for separate brake panels. Following its introduction into service, the Saab 17 became an important component of Swedish wartime readiness. The B 17 variants carried out bombing and coastal defense training missions, while the S 17 reconnaissance aircraft conducted surveillance and patrol operations over Sweden’s borders and surrounding waters. Though Sweden remained neutral throughout the war, the Saab 17 helped safeguard that neutrality and established Saab as a serious aircraft manufacturer capable of producing modern combat aircraft under demanding wartime conditions.

On 17 May 1944, the B‑17F serial number 42‑30088, nicknamed “Squawkin’ Hawk I”, of the 100th Bomb Group (USAAF Eighth Air Force) departed for the United States after completing 50 combat missions. It was the first in the group to reach that milestone. Though the bomber had receved flak damage (see photos), it had flown some 47,720 combat miles without a single crewmember being injured. The story of “Squawkin’ Hawk I” begins at the group’s base at RAF Thorpe Abbotts (Norfolk, England), where the 100th BG, known as the “Bloody Hundredth” due to heavy losses, flew daylight strategic bombing missions over Germany. As a recognition of this aircraft’s achievement, every square inch of its outer skin was covered with the names and autographs of men of the 100th Bomb Group. After returning to the U.S., “Squawkin’ Hawk I” was used in a War Bond tour, then relegated to training roles before eventually being sold for scrap on 13 December 1945 at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Its legacy endures through the nose‑art and heritage recognition by the modern 100th Air Refueling Wing, which unveiled the “Squawkin’ Hawk” tail art in 2023 in honor of its lineage.

@jet_ops_photography , @cafrainer Squadron member grabbed these shots of Devil Dog recently and it reminded us of how, even though we're spread all over the US, France, and the UK, we're family. 🤩 Don't forget to tag us in your photos and videos so we can see what you're up to! You never know- we may just feature you here. Okay, back to Devil Dog- who's been fortunate enough to see her in person?

On the night of 16/17 May 1943, Operation Chastise, the famous attack on German dams, was carried out by No. 617 Squadron of RAF Bomber Command, later immortalized as the “Dam Busters.” The Möhne and Eder dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding in the Ruhr and Eder valleys, while the Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage. 2 hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several others damaged, along with factories, bridges, railways, and mines. An estimated 1,600 civilians were killed in the flooding, including roughly 1,000 Soviet forced laborers. The RAF lost 8 of the 19 aircraft dispatched, with 53 aircrew killed and 3 captured. Do you remember that show Man, Moment, Machine? They did an episode on the Dam Busters mission, but in theirs, the machine was the Vickers Type 464 bouncing bomb, codenamed “Upkeep,” designed specifically for the raid, and the man was its creator, Barnes Wallis. We would suggest two additions. In our version, the machine would also include the Avro Lancaster B.III Special, a modified version of the Lancaster created specifically to carry Upkeep. The aircraft had an empty weight of 35,240 lbs and a maximum takeoff weight of 60,000 lbs. Upkeep was carried partially exposed beneath the fuselage on a special mounting system rather than fully enclosed in the bomb bay. Before release, an electric motor spun the cylindrical bomb backward at high speed, allowing it to skip across the water, strike the dam wall, sink alongside it, and detonate underwater against the structure. And as for the man, you would also have to include Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson, DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar, commander of 617 Squadron, codenamed for the mission as “Squadron X.” For his leadership in the planning, training, and execution of the raid, Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George VI, making him one of the most highly decorated British servicemen of the war. Gibson completed 172 combat missions before being KIA at the age of 26 during a bombing mission to Bremen, Germany, in Sept 1944. You can learn more about this mission in The Dam Busters Raid edition of CAF Warbird Tube on our YouTube channel by clicking on our link in bio.

Where are we? 📷 @teagantrigo

On 15 May 1941, Britain's Gloster-Whittle E.28/39 became the first Allied jet aircraft to fly when Chief Test Pilot Phillip Edward Gerald Sayer took off from RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. Powered by Frank Whittle’s revolutionary turbojet engine, the small experimental aircraft made a successful 17-minute flight that demonstrated the practicality of jet propulsion and marked a turning point in aviation history. The flight was the culmination of years of persistence by Whittle, who had first patented the turbojet concept in 1930. Despite skepticism within the British aviation establishment and limited funding during the 1930s, Whittle and his company, Power Jets Ltd., continued development of the engine. The Air Ministry eventually authorized Gloster Aircraft Company to build an experimental aircraft around Whittle’s W.1 turbojet, producing the E.28/39 prototype. The successful flight confirmed that jet propulsion offered speeds and performance beyond the limits of piston engine aircraft. The E.28/39 itself remained an experimental machine, but the knowledge gained from its testing led directly to the first operational Allied jet fighter, Britain's Gloster Meteor, which would first fly on 5 March 1943.

Fun Fact Friday: Did you know Mickey Mouse made his debut as a would-be aviator? On 15 May 1928, Walt Disney held a test screening at the Edward P. Little Theater in Los Angeles for the silent animated short “Plane Crazy,” inspired by Charles Lindbergh’s historic transatlantic flight the year before. The cartoon marked the first public appearance of Mickey Mouse outside Disney’s studio. Although “Plane Crazy” was completed before “Steamboat Willie,” distributors showed little interest in the silent short. After the enormous success of the synchronized sound cartoon “Steamboat Willie” in November 1928, Disney added sound to “Plane Crazy” and officially released it several months later. Because of this, Disney recognizes “Steamboat Willie” as Mickey Mouse’s official debut. But now we all know that from the very beginning, Mickey had aviation in his heart. 😉

What events are coming up in the next couple of weeks for the CAF? Take a look below. Or, for a complete list of events, visit commemorativeairforce.com/events May 12-17 • Ride the B-25 and B-17 in Atlanta, GA May 13-17 • Ride the B-29, Nella, RC-45, and PT-13 in West Columbia, SC May 15-16 • Ride TBM 309 in Peru, IL May 15-16 • Avenger Reunion in Peru, IL May 15-17 • Vero Beach Air Show in Vero Beach, FL May 16 • Hangar Hangout in Houston, TX May 16 • Town Hall Meeting at Rainier Squadron, Arlington, WA May 16 • Armed Forces Day Fly-In in Greenville, TX May 16 • Ride the AT-6, BT-13, and N3N in Houston, TX May 16 • See the AC-47 and Ride the B-25, SB2C, and JRB in Conroe, TX May 16-17 • Ride the P-51, SBD, T-34, LT-6 and PT-19 in Atlanta, GA May 16-17 • See RISE ABOVE in Greenville, TX May 16-18 • Armed Forces Celebration in Riverside, CA May 17-18 • Ride the SNB or T-28 in Broomfield, CO May 19-24 • Ride the B-25 and B-17 in Rock Hill, SC May 20 • CAF Warbird Tube: Saving the Halifax - online May 20-25 • Ride the B-29, AT-6, and PT-13 in Elm City, NC May 22-25 • See RISE ABOVE in Fredericksburg, VA May 23 • Ride the PT-19 in Lebanon, TN May 23 • Ride the P-51, SBD, LT-6, T-34, and PT-19 in Athens, GA May 23 • Memorial Day Flyover in Conroe, TX May 23 • Wings Over St. Louis May 23-24 • Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami, FL 📸 Dylan Phelps - Centerline Images

The ultimate #CaptionThis! And go! 📷 @bkelly71j

On 13 May 1963, Betty Miller became the first pilot to complete a trans-Pacific flight solo, with no navigator. She was delivering a Piper PA-23 Apache, equipped with an auxiliary fuel tank in the passenger compartment, from the United States to its owner in Australia. She departed Oakland, California, on 30 April, and landed in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, on 13 May. The flight took nearly two weeks due to maintenance and weather delays, but Miller made good time on each of her flying legs: ✈️ Oakland to Oahu = 17 hours, 3 minutes (+4 days for radio repair) ✈️ Oahu to Canton Island = 13 hours, 6 minutes ✈️ Canton Island to Fiji = 8 hours, 27 minutes On what was meant to be the fourth and final leg of the trip from Fiji, Miller was forced to divert to Noumea, New Caledonia, because of Hurricane Bebe (a late-season tropical cyclone). After waiting for the weather to clear, she finally flew to Brisbane. She crossed 7,400 miles of ocean in a total of 51 hours, 38 minutes in the air. That year, President John F. Kennedy awarded Mrs. Miller the Federal Aviation Administration Gold Medal for Exceptional Service. Then, on 14 September 1964, President Lyndon Johnson presented her with the Harmon International Trophy. Born Betty Jean Verret on 6 April 1926 in Venice, California, she graduated from Venice High School in 1942. She was employed by the Civil Aeronautics Administration as an Aircraft Communicator, and while working at Wendover, Utah, she met Chuck Miller. They married and lived in Santa Monica, California, where they operated a flight school. Miller was a member of the Ninety-Nines, the Whirly-Girls, and was chair of the FAA Women’s Advisory Committee. Betty Jean Verret Miller died 21 February 2018 at Bountiful, Utah. She was 91 years old.

In May of 1943, General Hap Arnold authorized Jackie Cochran to develop a new uniform specifically for the #WASP program. The result was the blue uniform we recognize today, but the blue had a particular name to it. What was the name of the shade of blue used?