WHAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO

December 1961

• December 11 – The first American military aircraft are based in Vietnam, as the U.S. Army's 8th and 57th Transportation Companies (Light Helicopter), arrive at Saigon, South Vietnam. They are equipped with 32 H-21C Shawnee transport helicopters.^[9]
• December 22 – U.S. Army helicopters engage in their first combat operation in Vietnam as the 8th Transportation Company makes several airlfits of South Vietnamese ground troops to landing zones in South Vietnam south of Saigon.^[10]
• December 23 – In Operation Chopper, U.S. Army helicopters airlift 1,000 South Vietnamese paratroopers to attack a suspected Viet Cong headquarters in South Vietnam 10 miles (16 km) west of Saigon.^[10]

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WHAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO

November 1956

EVENTS

November 28 - the Ryan X-13 Vertijet makes its first transition from vertical to horizontal flight

FIRST FLIGHTS

November 11 - Convair XB-58
November 17 - Dassault Mirage III

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WHAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO

October 1956

October 11 - a Vickers Valiant of No. 49 Squadron RAF drops Britain's first air-dropped atomic bomb, over Maralinga, South Australia

October 31 - a US Navy R4D Skytrain is the first aircraft to land at the South Pole

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WHAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO

September 1956

September 7 - the Bell X-2 research aircraft is flown by Captain Iven C. Kincheloe to a new altitude record of 126,200 ft (38,466 m).
September 24 - the Luftwaffe is re-formed in West Germany
September 27 - Milburn Apt sets a new airspeed record in the Bell X-2, becoming the first person to exceed Mach 3, reaching a speed of 2,094 mph (3,350 km/h) before he lost control of the X-2 and died in the resulting crash

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WHAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO

August 1956


First flights

August 1 - Aeritalia G.91

August 6 - Beechcraft Travel Air


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WHAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO

July 1956

First flight

July 23 - Dassault Étendard II


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WHAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO

June 1956

June 20 - the US Navy commissions its first helicopter carrier, USS Thetis Bay

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WHAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO

MAY 1956

GENERAL INFORMATIONS

May 21 - a B-52 Stratofortress drops the US's first air-dropped hydrogen bomb, a 3.75 MT device on Bikini Atoll

FIRST FLIGHTS

Aerfer Sagittario 2
May 26 - Sukhoi Su-9

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WHAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO

16 APRIL 1956

FIRST FLY FOR THE F4D Skyray

The Douglas F4D Skyray was a carrier-based fighter built by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Although it was in service for a very short time and never fired a shot in anger, it was notable for being the first carrier-launched plane to hold the world's absolute speed record and was the first Navy fighter capable of exceeding Mach 1 in level flight. It was also distinguished in being used by the only Navy Squadron (VFAW-3) assigned to the North American Air Defense Command. VFAW-3 was permanently based at NAS North Island, San Diego. Its unique and notable looks also played a part in making the Skyray one of the best-remembered early jet fighters. Affectionately known as the "Ford", this aircraft had a spectacular rate and angle of climb and set new time to altitude records.

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WHAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS AGO

10 March 1956

Lt Cdr Peter Twiss sets a new airspeed record in the Fairey Delta FD.2, also becoming the first person to exceed 1,000 mph. His top speed is 1,132 mph (1,821 km/h).