In support of an official event 

The Museum will be closed Sunday, May 25
In addition, the Fourth Hangar will be closed Saturday, May 24

Access to the Presidential Gallery will be limited from May 15 to June 5
 

Fact Sheet Alphabetical List

Fact Sheet Search

  • LITENING Pod

    Note: This item is currently in storage. The LITENING precision targeting pod system is operational with a variety of combat aircraft. It significantly increases the combat effectiveness of the aircraft during day, night and under-the-weather conditions in the attack of ground targets with a variety

  • Lancer Crew's Quick Response

    On April 7, 2003, a B-1B Lancer crew from the 28th Bomb Wing diverted to hit a newly-identified high-value target. They quickly found and destroyed the target in twelve minutes using four precision-guided bombs. They also struck an additional fifteen other targets on the mission, including

  • Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star

    The two-place T-33 jet was designed for training pilots already qualified to fly propeller-driven aircraft. It was developed from the single-seat F-80 fighter by lengthening the fuselage about three feet to accommodate a second cockpit.Originally designated the TF-80C, the T-33 made its first flight

  • Lockheed SR-71A

    The SR-71, unofficially known as the "Blackbird," is a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft. The first flight of an SR-71 took place on Dec. 22, 1964, and the first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later 9th)

  • Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk

    The Lockheed F-117A was developed in response to an Air Force request for an aircraft capable of attacking high value targets without being detected by enemy radar. By the 1970s, new materials and techniques allowed engineers to design an aircraft with radar-evading or "stealth" qualities. The

  • Lockheed F-94C Starfire

    The F-94 series all-weather interceptors were developed from the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. The prototype F-94 first flew on July 1, 1949. The Starfire was subsequently produced in the A, B and C series. The F-94C (originally designated the F-97A) was a fundamental redesign of the F-94B and made

  • Lockheed AC-130A Spectre

    The AC-130A Spectre is a C-130 converted to a gunship, primarily for night attacks against ground targets. To enhance its armament's effectiveness, it used various sensors, a target acquisition system, and infrared and low-light television systems. The versatile C-130 Hercules, originally designed

  • Launching Missiles

    Only the President of the United States can authorize a strategic missile launch. In the Minuteman II system, the launch sequence took less than five minutes. This is what would have happened: 1. The U.S. receives warning of an attack from early-warning satellites or ground radars. The North

  • Loss of B-52G "BRASS 02"

    On the night of December 20, 1972, the crew of a B-52G (S/N 57-6481) was flying an Operation Linebacker II mission with the call sign Brass 02. Shortly after releasing its bombs over railroad yards in Hanoi and turning for the long flight back to Guam, the aircraft suffered severe damage from two

  • Lt. Col. Jerald Ransom: First 100 North Vietnam A-1 Missions

    In November 1966, Lt. Col. Jerald Ransom became the first A-1E Skyraider pilot to complete 100 missions over North Vietnam. Ransom was a veteran of World War II, flying 35 missions over Europe as a B-17 navigator. In 1966, as commander of the 602nd Fighter Squadron (Commando), Ransom flew 366 hours