Capt. James G. Gallagher and a 13-man crew take off from Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, in Lucky Lady II, a Strategic Air Command B-50A. They land 94 hours and one minute later, having completed the first nonstop flight around the world. The 23,452-mile flight requires four midair refuelings and demonstrates that distance and geographical barriers no longer offer sanctuary from airpower.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.