June 8 in U.S. military history

1966: During a test flight of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie (featured image), an experimental six-engine bomber capable of flying at three times the speed of sound, an F-104 Starfighter chase plane collides with the Valkyrie, sending the bomber spiraling out of control and instantly killing the pilot of the chase plane, Joseph A. Walker – a former Army Air Force captain, fighter pilot during World War II, NASA chief test pilot, and the first U.S. civilian to fly high enough to be considered spaceflight. The Valkyrie’s pilot manages to eject, but the co-pilot is trapped inside the stricken warplane and crashes into the ground near Barstow, Calif. The Air Force backs out of the Valkyrie program shortly after the collision.

1967: During the Six-Day War between Israel and Arab nations, the technical research ship USS Liberty (AGTR-5), a converted World War II freighter, is attacked by Israeli fighter jets and torpedo boats in Mediterranean, killing 34 sailors and injuring nearly 200. The ship was operating 30 miles north of the Sinai Peninsula, gathering electronic intelligence during Israel’s brief conflict with the Soviet-supported Arabs.

Crews frantically work to save the vessel, which was nearly broken in half. Liberty’s skipper, Cmdr. William McGonagle, receives the Medal of Honor for his actions in an atypical private ceremony. Although the details surrounding the incident are still unclear 50 years later, Israel immediately apologizes for the incident, citing fog of war, and offers compensation to the sailors’ families.

1991: Hundreds of thousands gather to see Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf lead a victory parade through Washington, D.C. following Operation Desert Storm. A flyover of F-117 stealth fighters kicks off the parade, while tanks and thousands of troops pass in front of Pres. George H.W. Bush and other officials.

1995: Nearly a week after a Bosnian-Serb surface to air missile shoots down his F-16C Fighting Falcon, Capt. Scott O’Grady radios for help. The Air Force pilot has been behind enemy lines evading his would-be captors for six days, and searching for a safe location suitable for landing a helicopter. Within hours, a 41-man Marine Corps rescue unit boards two CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters, accompanied by attack helicopters and some 40 other aircraft. Although the helicopters take fire on the return trip, O’Grady is recovered and no one is injured in the daring mission.