The first flight of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter takes place. The conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version, piloted by company test pilot Jon Beesley, flew for 30 minutes from the company facility at Fort Worth, Texas.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

