Significant Names

Question 1

Who was the first woman to become a pilot in the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 1

Shirley Temple Bartholomew

Question 2

What significant first did General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. achieve?

Answer 2

He was the first African American general in the U.S. Air Force.

Question 3

Who was the first person to fly a jet aircraft?

Answer 3

Heinz von Ohain

Question 4

What year did the U.S. Air Force become an independent service?

Answer 4

1947

Question 5

Who was the first female four-star general in the U.S. military?

Answer 5

Ann E. Dunwoody

Question 6

Which Air Force pilot was the first to break the sound barrier?

Answer 6

Chuck Yeager

Question 7

What was the name of the first jet fighter used by the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 7

P-80 Shooting Star

Question 8

Who was the first Air Force officer to receive the Medal of Honor?

Answer 8

Major John L. Levitow

Question 9

Which aircraft is known as the first stealth bomber?

Answer 9

Northrop B-2 Spirit

Question 10

What does the acronym ‘AWACS’ stand for?

Answer 10

Airborne Warning and Control System

Question 11

Who was the first African American woman to become a pilot in the U.S. military?

Answer 11

Willa Brown

Question 12

What was the first operational aircraft to use the radar-evading technology?

Answer 12

F-117 Nighthawk

Question 13

Who was the first commander of the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 13

General Carl Spaatz

Question 14

What year did the Tuskegee Airmen begin training?

Answer 14

1941

Question 15

Who was the first woman to command a fighter wing in the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 15

Colonel Linda R. McGhee

Question 16

Which Air Force leader was known for the ‘Doolittle Raid’?

Answer 16

James H. Doolittle

Question 17

What was the first integrated squadron in the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 17

332nd Fighter Group

Question 18

Who was the first woman to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy?

Answer 18

Sharon Ann O’Keefe

Question 19

Which Air Force pilot was the first to achieve 5 aerial victories in the Vietnam War?

Answer 19

Colonel Robin Olds

Question 20

What was the first air-to-air missile developed by the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 20

AIM-7 Sparrow

Question 21

Who was the first Air Force officer to serve as Secretary of the Air Force?

Answer 21

W. Stuart Symington

Question 22

What year was the first female pilot training program established in the Air Force?

Answer 22

1976

Question 23

Who was the first Air Force pilot to earn the Distinguished Service Cross?

Answer 23

Major Richard Bong

Question 24

Which aircraft was the first to be used for aerial refueling?

Answer 24

B-24 Liberator

Question 25

Who was the first Hispanic American to earn a pilot's license in the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 25

Rodolfo “Rudy” Hernandez

Question 26

What was the first operational supersonic bomber in the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 26

Convair B-58 Hustler

Question 27

Who was the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat?

Answer 27

Captain Linda L. McGhee

Question 28

What is the significance of the 99th Pursuit Squadron?

Answer 28

It was the first African American squadron in the U.S. Air Force.

Question 29

Who was the first U.S. Air Force officer to be awarded the Silver Star?

Answer 29

Major George E. McGuire

Question 30

What was the first space mission conducted by the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 30

Project Blue Book

Question 31

Who was the first woman to serve as the Air Force Chief of Staff?

Answer 31

No woman has served as Chief of Staff.

Question 32

What aircraft was the first to be equipped with the Global Positioning System?

Answer 32

C-17 Globemaster III

Question 33

Who was the first Air Force pilot to achieve 100 aerial victories during World War II?

Answer 33

Major Richard Bong

Question 34

What was the first U.S. Air Force drone used in combat?

Answer 34

Ryan Firebee

Question 35

Who was the first woman to serve as a general officer in the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 35

Brigadier General Jeanne M. Holm

Question 36

What year did the first women enter the Air Force Academy?

Answer 36

1976

Question 37

Who was the first black woman to earn a pilot's license in the U.S.?

Answer 37

Bessie Coleman

Question 38

What is the significance of the Air Force Academy's Class of 1980?

Answer 38

It was the first class to graduate women.

Question 39

Who was the first U.S. Air Force officer to become a NASA astronaut?

Answer 39

Major Robert Lawrence

Question 40

What was the first dual-role aircraft in the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 40

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

Question 41

Who was the first woman to fly in combat in the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 41

Captain Kim Campbell

Question 42

What year was the first Air Force Academy graduation ceremony?

Answer 42

1959

Question 43

Who was the first pilot to land on an aircraft carrier?

Answer 43

Eugene Ely

Question 44

What was the first operational reconnaissance satellite launched by the U.S. Air Force?

Answer 44

CORONA

Question 45

Who was the first U.S. Air Force female pilot to fly the F-15?

Answer 45

Major Nicole Malachowski

Question 46

What was the first Air Force aircraft to be used in the Gulf War?

Answer 46

F-117 Nighthawk

Question 47

Who was the first U.S. Air Force pilot to use the ejection seat?

Answer 47

Captain John R. McCoy