Aviation boomed in 1920s America, as US pilots scored firsts for endurance and transcontinental flights. As aviation advanced and planes became faster and more powerful, the next challenge was to attain perpetual flight. With the end of World War II, America seemed to have just what they needed to accomplish the seemingly impossible.

Recommended reading: Flight: The Complete History of Aviation by R.G. Grant

Cited sources:

Refueling history - https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/197385/first-air-to-air-refueling/#:~:text=to%20Air%20Refueling-,To%20eliminate%20the%20fuel%20limitation%20problem%2C%20the%20fliers%20at%20Rockwell,Smith%20on%20June%2027%2C%201923.

B-50 - https://planesoffame.org/aircraft/plane-B-50A 

Lucky Lady II - https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0399lucky/

Lucky Lady II - https://www.edn.com/1st-nonstop-flight-around-the-world-lands-march-2-1949/

LLII - https://www.defense.gov/News/Inside-DOD/Blog/Article/2091499/the-air-force-made-the-1st-nonstop-round-the-world-flight/

Mackay Trophy - https://naa.aero/awards/awards-and-trophies/mackay-trophy/

Mackay Trophy winners - https://naa.aero/awards/awards-and-trophies/mackay-trophy/mackay-1920-1929-winners/

Fokker T-2 - https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/fokker-t-2/nasm_A19240003000#:~:text=The%20T%2D2%20had%20flown,147%20kph%20(92%20mph).

Fastest planes - https://aerocorner.com/blog/fastest-planes-of-ww2/

B-29 - https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196252/boeing-b-29-superfortress/

Soviet atom bomb - https://www.theepochtimes.com/bright/how-a-usaf-simulation-nearly-resulted-in-nuclear-disaster-5577558

1924 flight around the world - https://www.theepochtimes.com/bright/donald-douglas-first-around-the-world-5497945

Global Queen - https://www.fai.org/news/lucky-lady-ii-story-first-non-stop-round-world-flight

Vandenberg Trophy - https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/458978/lucky-ladies-i-ii-and-iii/