Lex Anteinternet: Wednesday, March 22, 1944. Vesuvius destroys the 340th Bombardment Group and the XP56.

Lex Anteinternet: Wednesday, March 22, 1944. German defeat in the B...: 

80% of the B-25s of the 340th Bombardment Group were destroyed by volcanic boulders from Vesuvius.

The only example of the Northrup XP-56, the first one having been destroyed in a crash, was photographed in anticipation of its first flight the following day.

Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet (s/n 42-38353) on the ground at Muroc Army Air Field, California, March 22, 1944.

The weird aircraft was not a success.

Last prior edition:

Tuesday, March 21, 1944. Dear John.

1940s, 1944, Aircraft, Churches, Continuation War, Kamikaze, Miles City Montana, New Guinea, Operation Margarethe, Operation U-Go, The relationship between men and women, The written word, World War Two

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, January 20, 1974. First flight of the F-16.

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, January 20, 1974. First flight of the F-16.: 

Sunday, January 20, 1974. First flight of the F-16.

First flight of the F-16.

YF-16, the aircraft before official adoption, and YF-17, a Northrup aircraft that did not gain acceptance.

It was an accident.  During high speed ground test a horizontal stabilizer was damaged and the test pilot took the aircraft off due to the severe oscillations it was experiencing. 

One of the greatest fighter aircraft of all time, it remains in production, although not for the U.S.