After shooting down a German aircraft, Maj. Edward “Mick” Mannock, the Royal Air Force’s all time leading ace, is hit by ground fire that causes his fuel tank to explode. His S.E. 5a aircraft dives into the ground and he is killed. He is posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for valor. Major Mannock is generally given credit for 73 aerial victories, although several sources put his total lower.
The Air Force conducted its first successful test of the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, on May 14, snapping a streak of three consecutive failed tests and giving the beleaguered hypersonics program a much needed boost. Off the coast of Southern California, the AGM-183A ARRW separated from the wing…