Fact Sheet Alphabetical List

Fact Sheet Search

  • "Iron Mike"

    "Iron Mike," the mascot of the 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, prior to its deactivation in late 1969, is a classic example of Air Force esprit de corps. He was considered "fair game" by rival USAF units, and as such, was frequently abducted from Alaska, to

  • Berlin Wall: Concrete Symbol of the Iron Curtain

    In 1961, Berlin became the focal point of increased tensions between the Western democracies and the Soviet Union. Dissatisfied with the economy and the political conditions in East Germany, thousands of East German refugees fled into West Berlin, the only gap in the Iron Curtain running from the

  • Trabant 601 S "Delux"

    Throughout the Cold War, the communists used East Berlin as a showcase for the success of socialism. Visitors were shown carefully maintained areas with shops, department stores and restaurants carrying some of the finest merchandise available in the communist block. However, the average East German

  • Atomic Bomb Alarm: Early Days of Early Warning

    In the 1960s, The U.S. Air Force needed a sure way to know quickly whether Soviet bombers or missiles had struck American cities and bases with nuclear weapons. This small device, part of a nationwide "Bomb Alarm Display System," was designed to send warning signals to military command centers to

  • F-111A Escape Module

    Note: This artifact has been moved to storage.This cockpit crew escape module on display is the first one ever used to save the lives of its occupants. On Oct. 19,1967, two General Dynamic contractor pilots flying F-111A (s/n 63-9780) over Texas were required to eject the module when the plane

  • MC-11 Air Compressor

    This item of ground support equipment can provide low pressure compressed air for such tasks as inflating tires and high pressure air for servicing landing gear shock struts. It also was used for starting aircraft engines on Air Defense Command aircraft which had air driven starter systems, such as

  • Operation Sun Run

    On Nov. 27, 1957, four USAF pilots of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing successfully completed Operation Sun Run by establishing three new transcontinental speed records in a McDonnell RF-101C aircraft. The record-breaking mission showcased the speed and range of the RF-101C, an improved

  • Martin TM-61A Matador

    As the U.S. Air Force's first pilotless bomber, the Matador used a concept similar to the German V-1 "buzz bomb" of World War II. Originally designated the B-61, the TM-61A surface-to-surface tactical missile carried either a conventional or nuclear warhead. Launched from a mobile 40-foot trailer by

  • T9E1 75mm Cannon

    During World War II, the AAF equipped its B-25G and B-25H medium bombers and some Douglas A-26B light bombers with a single-shot manually loaded 75mm cannon in the nose. Though only three of four rounds could be fired during a single attack run on a target, these aircraft caused considerable damage

  • Northrop SM-62 Snark

    The Snark, a pilotless nuclear missile, represented an important step in weapons technology during the Cold War. The SM-62 (Strategic Missile) program lasted from 1945-1961, and it gave the U.S. Air Force valuable experience in developing long-range strategic nuclear missile systems. The SM-62 was a