Seeking Panama’s dictator Manuel Noriega on multiple drug trafficking charges, the U.S. deployed one of their most secretive and effective weapons for the first time in the darkness of Dec. 20, 1989. At 0101 hours on Dec. 20, 1989, the pitch black peaceful tropical night outside the Panamanian Defense Force (PDF) barracks was suddenly disturbed […]

As the conflict in Vietnam raged, the UH-1 Huey was modified into a gunship, but the ubiquitous helicopter was slow and underpowered at times, thus prompting the need for a dedicated attack aircraft. Bell Helicopter had anticipated the eventual need for a pure attack helicopter and had already started research and development even before the […]

As we observe Military History Month, we invite you to reflect on the historic publications that document America’s enduring role in global peace. From the nation’s founding in 1776 to the complexities of the modern era, the GPO Bookstore serves as the premier gateway to our shared military heritage. Whether you are a dedicated history […]

We get a first-hand account from the third pilot onboard the EP-3 and his experiences while being held by the Chinese, as well as being released and coming home. On April 1, 2001, a United States Navy EP-3E signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft collided with a Chinese interceptor over the South China Sea, causing the EP-3 […]

In the second part of this story, we cover the day Soviet Air Force Captain Alexander M. Zuyev defected in a MiG-29 fighter after executing a brilliant and bold plan in 1989, landing at a coastal airport in Turkey. This article is the second of a two-part story covering the prepararations and then the defection […]

In 1989 Soviet Air Force Captain Alexander M. Zuyev defected in a MiG-29 fighter after executing a brilliant and bold plan, shocking the Soviet Union’s communist rulers and handing the West an advanced combat aircraft. This article is the first of a two-part story covering the prepararations and then the defection of Alexander Zuyev. Stay […]

In the aftermath of Operation El Dorado Canyon, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was sent across Qaddafi’s ‘Line of Death’ for a high-risk overflight of Libya to deliver critical battle damage assessment. After a joint strike mission conducted by United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Navy (USN) aircraft on key Libyan targets, it was […]

March 29 marks the anniversary of the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam in 1973. While it took decades for their sacrifices to be formally recognized, the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 officially designated this day to honor the 2.7 million Americans who served in uniform. The Vietnam War was a […]

Tragedy struck on March 23, 1994, at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, on an aircraft parking ramp known as ‘Green Ramp.’ A number of paratroopers were lost and several injured after flames and debris rained down on their training and assembly area after a mid-air collision between a fighter jet and a cargo plane, […]

Designed for fleet air defense, the F-14 was armed with a potent long-range missile and, with a powerful new radar, could engage multiple airborne targets at once. The United States Navy’s F-14 Tomcat was the most potent fleet defense aircraft of its time. Its AIM-54 Phoenix missile had a long range, the new AWG-9 radar […]

Departing in the predawn darkness of Aug. 6, 1945, a modified B-29, designated with radio call sign ‘Dimples 82’, was carrying a single bomb. Enola Gay was about to change the world. Approximately a year and nine months earlier, on Dec. 2, 1943, a lone Boeing B-29 Superfortress bearing serial number 42-6259 had secretly taken […]

Dating back to the days of sailing vessels and piracy on the high seas, the intimidating black flag with a white skull and crossbones logo has adorned U.S. Navy aircraft since 1943. Flying some of history’s most feared and well-known aircraft, squadrons bearing the Jolly Rogers name have carried a tradition of U.S. Naval aviation […]