26 October 1907 (France) — Henry Farman flies his Voisin Farman I flying machine just under 2,530 feet, breaking the world distance record.

26 October 1909 (USA) — Lt. F.E. Humphreys becomes the first Army officer to solo the first Army airplane.

26 October 1942 (Santa Cruz) — Battle of Santa Cruz off Guadalcanal between United States and Japanese warships results in the loss of the carrier USS Hornet (CV-8).