This Week in History (24-30 September 2012) Published Sept. 23, 2012 7AF/HO OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Early Air Power Innovation 24 September 1929 At Mitchel Field, NY, Lt. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle (left) made the first instruments-only, all-blind flight, from takeoff to landing. Doolittle flew with a covered cockpit for a short distance and landed. A check pilot monitored the flight. Doolittle made important contributions to aviation technology, specifically instrument flying. He helped develop fog-flying equipment including the artificial horizon and directional gyroscope. These achievements made all-weather flight operations safe and practical, and earned Doolittle the Harmon Trophy. PACAF History 30 September 1940 Hickam's "Big Barracks," also called "Hale Makai," was completed. The world's largest single military barracks at the time, it could house 3,200 personnel and feed them in shifts in the central mess hall. The building is now home to PACAF Headquarters. The Beginnings of the United States Air Force 25 September 1947 President Truman named Gen. Carl A. Spaatz as the first USAF chief of staff. On the following day, Defense Secretary James W. Forrestal ordered air personnel, bases, and materiel transferred from the Army to the new Department of the Air Force. The Week In Korean War History 27 September 1951 In Operation PELICAN, a C-124 Globemaster II flew for the first time from Japan to Korea, delivering 30,000 pounds of aircraft parts to Kimpo Airfield and demonstrating the potential of very large transport aircraft in a combat theater. Beginning of the Thunderbirds 24 September 1987 The Thunderbirds gave their first show ever in the People's Republic of China before some 20,000 Chinese in Beijing.