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  • Fairchild C-119J Flying Boxcar

    Satellite CatcherThis C-119J Flying Boxcar made the world’s first mid-air recovery of an object returning from space. In August 1960, it caught the Discoverer XIV satellite using recovery gear lowered from the open rear door. This mechanism snagged the satellite’s parachute, and a winch slowly

  • Fairchild XSM-73 Bull Goose

    The Fairchild XSM-73 Bull Goose was a pilotless decoy missile designed in the 1950s to simulate the radar signatures of large bombers. If several ground-launched, intercontinental-range SM-73 decoys saturated and confused enemy defenses, the real bombers had a better chance of getting through to

  • Form for Dropped Messages

    Note: This item is currently in storage.This standardized form for dropped messages was used by aircraft observers to quickly report enemy ground movement to friendly troops and waiting intelligence officers. The hand-written report was dropped on Oct. 5, 1918, by pilot Lt. William C. Thomas and

  • Fisher P-75A Eagle

    The Fisher Body Division of General Motors developed the P-75 Eagle to fill an urgent need for an interceptor early in World War II. The original P-75 design incorporated the most powerful inline engine available and components from other aircraft as a way to expedite production.Flight tests in late

  • Fairchild Model 24-C8F (UC-61J)

    The Model 24 was a civilian aircraft first produced in 1932. Model 24s were built with a variety of in-line or radial air-cooled engines and different passenger-carrying capacities. During World War II more than 1,000 Model 24s were produced for the military under the designation UC-61, but many

  • Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II

    The A-10 is the first U.S. Air Force aircraft designed specifically for close air support of ground forces. It is named for the famous P-47 Thunderbolt, a fighter often used in a close air support role during the latter part of World War II. The A-10 is very maneuverable at low speeds and low

  • Franklin O-805-2

    Note: This item is currently in storage.The Franklin O-805-2, a 12-cylinder, 450 hp engine with opposed cylinders, was built near the end of World War II by Aircooled Motors to be used on the Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Group's XBQ-5 prototype. The aircraft would have been a

  • Fiat A-12

    Note: This item is currently in storage.The Fiat A-12 engine is a six-cylinder, liquid-cooled, in-line engine of 260 hp. It was used in such aircraft as the S.I.A. 7B1, Fiat R-2, S.A.M.L. S-2 reconnaissance aircraft, and the Caproni Ca. 46 bomber.Click here to return to the Featured Accessions

  • Flight Wrench

    Note: This item is currently in storage. This flight wrench belonged to the donor's husband, Van. E. Chandler, who joined the Army Air Forces in February 1943 and served more than 20 years before retiring as a colonel. He is credited as being the youngest World War II ace at the age of 19. He also

  • First Minuteman III Launch Commemorative Coin

    Note: This item is currently in storage.This commemorative coin shows an image of a rocket launch and says "First Minuteman III Launch, September 16, 1968, FTM 201."Donated by Ms. Leigh P. Smith and Ms. Sandra J. Burns.Click here to return to the Featured Accessions index.