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This Week in History

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This Week in U.S. Air Force/Aerospace History, June 15 - 21.

June 20, 1930
The Air Corps established Randolph Field at San Antonio, Texas, for primary and basic pilot training. The field became known as the "West Point of the Air."

June 20, 1941
The War Department established the Army Air Forces under Maj. Gen. Henry H. Arnold.

June 19 - 20, 1944
During the Battle of the Philippine Sea - later called "The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" - U.S. carrier-based aircraft shot down more than 300 Japanese carrier-based aircraft over the Pacific. After this battle, Japanese naval air power never again posed a serious threat to U.S. forces in the Pacific.

June 18, 1981
The F-117 Stealth Fighter flew for the first time.

June 18, 1983
Sally Ride became the first U.S. woman to travel into outer space. She was a Challenger crew member on the seventh space shuttle mission.

This Week in Fairchild History, 15 - 21 Jun

June 20, 1994
A former Fairchild airman opened fire with an assault rifle in the base hospital complex, killing five and injuring 23. The gunman was killed by Senior Airman Andrew Brown, a member of the 92nd Security Police Squadron.

June 17, 2004
President George W. Bush landed at Fairchild to attend an event in Spokane. After his return to the base, the President greeted members of Team Fairchild before departing on Air Force One.

June 19, 2006
Maj. Fred Lacey assumed command of the 92nd Contracting Squadron.