9781422280201

In 1966, the B-52, which had been able to carry 51 bombs, was modified to carry 108 bombs.

Chuck Yeager flew his Bell XS-1 faster than the speed of sound. It is worth noting, however, that turboprops retain many transportation and surveillance roles in the Air Force even today. In the early 1960s, the USAF became involved in another conflict in the Far East, this time in the troubled country of Vietnam. The United States was steadily dragged into the war be- tween North and South Vietnam, and for over 10 years, the Air Force flew thousands of combat and supply missions. The Vietnam War (1963–1975) was one of the greatest periods of technological develop- ment in the Air Force. Helicopters were the principal method of transporting troops and supplies, and combat helicopters armed with rockets and machine guns were developed. In the face of such lethal air defenses, classic aircraft, such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and Republic F-105 Thunder-chief, conducted missions over North Vietnam. Precision-guided bombs

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