January 14, 1953

Jan. 14, 1953
Capt. Joseph C. McConnell Jr., who would go on to become the leading American ace in Korea, records his first aerial victory, a MiG-15. Assigned to the 39th Fighter Squadron, he was flying a North American F-86 at the time.

Related

Air Force Shakes Up Acquisition Leadership

Dec. 18, 2025
The top of the Air Force's acquisition enterprise is going through its biggest change in decades, as the Senate confirmed a new four-star officer at the Pentagon and received the nomination for a three-star to lead Air Force Materiel Command.

USAF Moves Up Air Force One Delivery; Acquires 2 Extra 747-8s for Parts, Training

Dec. 17, 2025
The Air Force is now expecting delivery of the first VC-25B presidential transport by mid-2028, months ahead of its last official projection, a service spokesperson said this week. USAF also announced it is buying two used Boeing 747-8 jetliners for training and spare parts to be delivered in 2026, calling the $400 million deal part of its “acceleration efforts” for the oft-delayed presidential airlift program.

Air Force: Medical Shaving Profiles Issued Before March Will Soon Be Invalid

Dec. 17, 2025
The Department of the Air Force is limiting medical shaving profiles to a maximum of six months, down from the previous limit of five years, and will soon require Airmen and Guardians with profiles issued in the last 10 months to be reevaluated as part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s…

Billy Mitchell: Lessons a Hundred Years Hence

Dec. 16, 2025
Exactly 100 years ago, on Dec. 17, 1925, Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell was convicted by court-martial for violating an order that required approval before he could engage with the media. Mitchell’s provocative thoughts and unorthodox methods sought attention for a cause that he saw as uniquely American.

Air Force IT Leaders Adopt Commercial-First Strategy

Dec. 16, 2025
The Department of the Air Force is embracing the new commercial-first approach to IT ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, outsourcing networks and other infrastructure and reducing the amount of customization required from vendors, say the chief information officers for several DAF organizations.