Flying a Sopwith Triplane, Ensign Robert A. Little is shot down and killed while attempting to destroy a German Gotha IV bomber over Noeux, France. Ensign Little, who flew with the Royal Navy Flying Service, had recorded 47 confirmed victories, making him the highest scoring Australian ace of all time.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…