NationMaster - Encyclopedia: American Air Force

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. Previously part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947.^[1] Image File history File links USAF_F-16A_F-15C_F-15E_Desert_Storm_pic. ... The 4th Fighter Wing is a F-15E Strike Eagle unit based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base , North Carolina. ... Combatants UN Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 378 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 dead, 75,000 wounded The Gulf War (2 August 1990 â€“ 28 February 1991) was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of approximately 30 nations... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1947: Events March March 14 - Saudi Arabian Airlines begins regular services. ... The United States Department of Defense, abbreviated as DoD or DOD and sometimes called the Defense Department, is a civilian Cabinet organization of the United States government. ... The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located at 48 N. Rotary Road, Arlington, Virginia 22211 (Map). ... The U.S. Air Force is the official song of the United States Air Force. ... Combatants United Nations: Republic of Korea Australia Belgium Canada Colombia Ethiopia France Greece Netherlands New Zealand Philippines South Africa Thailand Turkey United Kingdom United States Medical staff: Denmark India Italy Norway Sweden Communist states: Democratic Peopleâ€™s Republic of Korea Peopleâ€™s Republic of China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam Peopleâ€™s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders George H. W. Bush, Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan Al-Majid, Hussein Kamel Strength 660,000 ~545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 - 100,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The 1991 Gulf War (also Persian... â€œOperation Deliberate Forceâ€ was a sustained air campaign conducted by NATO to undermine the military capability of Bosnian Serb who threatened or attacked UN designated safe areas in Bosnia. ... Combatants United States, UK Iraq Commanders General Tony Zinni Saddam Hussien Strength 30,500 unknown Casualties none 600-2,000 dead Operation Desert Fox was the military codename for a major four-day bombing campaign on Iraqi targets from December 16-December 19, 1998 by the United States and United... An USAF F-15E takes off from Aviano, Italy Operation Allied Force aka Kosovo-NATO War was NATOs military operation against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that lasted from 24 March to 11 June 1999 and is considered a major part of Kosovo War. ... Combatants United States Canada United Kingdom Philippines (in the Philippines theatre only) Northern Alliance Taliban al-Qaeda Abu Sayyaf Jemaah Islamiyah Commanders General Tommy Franks Brig. ... For other uses of the term, see Iraq war (disambiguation) The 2003 invasion of Iraq (also called the 2nd or 3rd Persian Gulf War) began on March 20, 2003, when forces belonging primarily to the United States and the United Kingdom invaded Iraq arguably without the explicit backing of the... General T. Micheal Moseley T. Michael Moseley is the current Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. ... As of November 4, 2005, Michael Wynne has served as the current Secretary of the Air Force External Links Official Biography [1] Categories: U.S. Secretaries of the Air Force | United States military biographical stubs ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Curtis Emerson LeMay (November 15, 1906 â€“ October 1, 1990) was a General in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of independent candidate George C. Wallace in 1968. ... Image File history File links USAF_roundel. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States_Air_Force. ... A ground attack aircraft is an aircraft that is designed to operate very close to the ground, supporting infantry and tanks directly in battle. ... For the game, see F-15 Strike Eagle (computer game) The F-15E Strike Eagle is a modern United States all-weather strike fighter, designed for long-range interdiction of enemy ground targets deep behind enemy lines. ... The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, nicknamed â€œThe Black Jetâ€[2], is the worlds first operational aircraft completely designed around stealth technology. ... Primary user United States Air Force Number built 715 Unit cost US$9. ... The AC-130 Gunship is an armed variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. ... A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range jet strategic bomber flown by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1954. ... The Boeing (formerly Rockwell International) B-1B Lancer is a long-range strategic bomber in service with the United States Air Force (USAF). ... The B-2 Spirit, made by Northrop Grumman, is an multi-role stealth aircraft able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. ... Electronic warfare (EW) has three main components: Electronic Attack (EA) This is the active use of the electromagnetic spectrum to deny its use by an adversary. ... The E-3 Sentry is a military airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, to the United States, NATO and other air defense forces. ... The E-4B Nightwatch, formerly known as NEACP (Kneecap) and sometimes called NAOC (National Airborne Operations Center), is a Boeing 747-200 aircraft specially built to serve as a survivable mobile command post for the President during a nuclear war. ... Dash 8 is also a series of diesel locomotives built by GE; see List of GE locomotives The de Havilland Canada DHC-8, popularly known as the Dash 8, is a series of twin-turboprop airliners designed by de Havilland Canada in the early 1980s. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a stealth fighter aircraft. ... The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) F-15 Eagle is an American-built all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multi-role jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics in the United States. ... The F-35 Lightning IIâ€”descended from the X-35 of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programâ€”is a single-seat, single-engined military strike fighter, a multi-role aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air-to-air combat. ... English Electric Canberra PR.9 photo reconnaissance aircraft CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft of the Canadian Air Force. ... The Lockheed U-2R/TR-1 in flight The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed Dragon Lady, is a single-seat, single-engine, high-altitude surveillance aircraft flown by the United States Air Force. ... United States Air Force E-8C Joint STARS The E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) is a United States Air Force airborne battle management and command and control (C2) platform that conducts ground surveillance to develop an understanding of the enemy situation and to support attack... It has been suggested that Rivet Amber be merged into this article or section. ... The Northrop Grumman (formerly Ryan Aeronautical) RQ-4 Global Hawk (known as Tier II+ during development) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used by the US Air Force as a surveillance aircraft. ... Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle flies on a simulated Navy aerial reconnaissance flight off southern California in December 1995. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A T-6 Texan II For the similarly-named World War II aircraft, see T-6 Texan. ... One of the most prominent of the trainer-attack type aircraft is the Cessna T-37/A-37, known in various forms as the Tweety Bird, Tweet, Dragonfly, or Super Tweet. ... The Northrop T-38 Talon is a US-built supersonic jet trainer for military pilots and NASA astronauts. ... The T-1A Jayhawk is a twin-engined jet aircraft used by the United States Air Force for advanced pilot training. ... This article, image, template or category should belong in one or more categories. ... The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) C-17 Globemaster III is a strategic airlifter manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and operated by the United States Air Force, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. ... The C-5 Galaxy is a jet-powered military transport aircraft designed to provide strategic heavy airlift over intercontinental distances. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for military forces worldwide. ... The C-135 Stratolifter is a transport aircraft derived from Boeing’s prototype 707 jet airliner in the early 1950s. ... The KC-10 Extender is an air-to-air tanker aircraft in service with the United States Air Force derived from the civilian DC-10-30 airliner. ... This article is about the aircraft. ... The Boeing C-32 is the designation of a USAF passenger transportation aircraft, a version of the Boeing 757. ... A C-9 Skytrain II offloading on the ramp at Naval Air Station Brunswick. ... The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multi-mission military aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. ... Look up aerospace in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... The United States has seven uniformed services as defined by Title 10 of the United States Code. ... The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States armed forces and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...

The USAF is the largest and the most technologically advanced air force in the world, with about 6057 manned aircraft in service (4,273 USAF; 1,313 Air National Guard; and 400 Air Force Reserve); approximately 160 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles, 2161 Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, and 1900 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles;^[2] and as of September 30, 2005, had 351,800 personnel on active duty, 122,750 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 106,800 in the Air National Guard. An additional 14,000 personnel were in the Standby Reserve and the Air Force employed 166,730 civilian personnel. ^[2] A Boeing X-45A UCAV The Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) is the name of a new class of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that have been designed to carry out air strikes. ... A Tomahawk cruise missile Taurus KEPD 350 A cruise missile is a guided missile which uses a lifting wing and most often a jet propulsion system to allow sustained flight. ... A Minuteman III ICBM test launch from Vandenberg AFB, California, United States. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ActiveDuty. ...

The USAF is currently planning a massive Reduction-in-Force (RIF). Because of budget constraints, the USAF will reduce the service's current size by 40,000 full time equivalent positions by 2011, with approximately half to be eliminated in FY 2007. Approximately 35,000 active duty positions, or one year's cycle of enlistments and retirements, will be eliminated over 5 years.^[3] The current size of the active-duty force is roughly 70% of that of the USAF at the end of the first Gulf War in 1991.^[4] Combatants UN Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 378 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 dead, 75,000 wounded The Gulf War (2 August 1990 â€“ 28 February 1991) was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of approximately 30 nations...

According to the National Security Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 502) which created the Air Force, "In general the United States Air Force shall include aviation forces both combat and service not otherwise assigned. It shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. The Air Force shall be responsible for the preparation of the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peacetime components of the Air Force to meet the needs of war." The National Security Act of 1947 signed July 26, 1947 by U.S. President Harry S. Truman realigned and reorganized the United States armed forces, foreign policy, and Intelligence Community apparatus in the aftermath of World War II. It merged the United States Department of War and the United States... Aviation refers to flying using aircraft, machines designed by humans for atmospheric flight. ... Combate Naval de Iquique - oil on canvas painting by Thomas Somerscales, XIX century Combat, or fighting, is purposeful violent conflict between one or more persons or organizations, often intended to establish dominance over the opposition. ...

The stated mission of the USAF today is to "deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests — to fly and fight in Air, Space, and Cyberspace".^[5]

Not all of the United States' military combat aircraft are operated by the USAF. The United States Army operates its own helicopters, mostly for support of ground combatants. The Navy is responsible for the aircraft operating on its aircraft carriers and Naval air stations, and the Marine Corps operates its own combat and transport aircraft. The Coast Guard also maintains transport and search-and-rescue aircraft, which may be used in a combat and law enforcement role. All branches of the U.S. military operate helicopters. Image File history File links Seal_of_the_US_Air_Force. ... The Air National Guard (ANG) is part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Air Force (USAF). ... ACC bases and deploments The Air Combat Command (ACC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force whose mission is to provide air combat forces (mostly aircraft), to other commands, including both commands within the Air Force as well as the United States Unified Combatant Commands that... Air Education and Training Command (AETC), with headquarters at Randolph AFB near San Antonio, Texas, was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. ... Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command. ... This article or section should include material from U.S. Air Force Reserve Shield of the Air Force Reserve Command. ... Air Force Space Command emblem Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) is a major command of the United States Air Force with headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, USA. It was created on September 1, 1982. ... Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is the major command charged with overseeing the United States Air Forces Special Operations Forces (SOF). ... Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, and the air force component of United States Transportation Command. ... Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces Pacific The United States Pacific Air Forces (USPACAF or PACAF) is one of nine major U.S. Air Force commands and one of two located outside the continental United States, the other being U.S. Air Forces Europe. ... Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. ... The Air Force Cyberspace Command (AFCC) is a United States Air Force major command whose development was announced by the Secretary of the Air Force on November 2, 2006. ... This is a list of Field Operating Agencies (FOA) in the United States Air Force that are active. ... This is a list of Major Commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force Historically, a MAJCOM is the highest level of command, only below HQ USAF, and directly above Numbered Air Forces (NAF). ... This is a list of Numbered Air Forces (NAF) of the United States Air Force Historically, a NAF is a level of command below a MAJCOM (Major Command), and above one or more Wings or independent Groups. ... This is a list of Wings in the United States Air Force. ... This is a list of Groups in the United States Air Force that do not belong to the wing that has host duties for the base at which it is stationed. ... This is a list of United States Air Force aircraft squadrons. ... The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located at 48 N. Rotary Road, Arlington, Virginia 22211 (Map). ... The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, (, ), is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers in the United States Air Force. ... The following is a partial list of U.S. Air Force bases and airfields, past and present. ... The Airman Battle Uniform. ... This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production and operational types. ... Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force are military decorations which are issued by the Department of the Air Force to Air Force service members and members of other military branches serving under Air Force commands. ... Badges of the United States Air Force are military awards which are issued by the United States Air Force for personal qualification in several career fields and also as identification badges while serving in certain assignments. ... United States Service Bands Each of the branches of the U.S. military, has a headquarters band organization, all but one of which are in the Washington, D.C. area. ... The U.S. Air Force is the official song of the United States Air Force. ... The United States Air Force Memorial is a sculpture in progress in Arlington, Virginia and designed by American architect James Ingo Freed with the firm Pei Cobb Freed and Partners Architects LLP for United States Air Force Memorial Foundation. ... Famous people who served in the United States Air Force. ... The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official national museum of the United States Air Force and is located at Wright-Patterson AFB, east of Dayton, Ohio. ... The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States armed forces and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... USN redirects here. ... Four aircraft carriers, Principe-de-Asturias, USS Wasp, USS Forrestal and HMS Invincible (front-to-back), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier, light V/STOL carriers, and an amphibious carrier. ... A Naval Air Station is an airbase of the United States Navy. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces to global crises. ... The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States armed forces involved in maritime law enforcement, mariner assistance, search and rescue, and national defense, among other duties of coast guards elsewhere. ...

History^[6]

The United States Air Force became a separate military service on September 18, 1947, with the implementation of the National Security Act of 1947.^[7] The Act created the United States Department of Defense, which was composed of three branches, the Army, Navy and a newly created Air Force.^[8] Prior to 1947, the responsibility for military aviation was divided between the Army (for land-based operations) and the Navy, for sea-based operations from aircraft carrier and amphibious aircraft. The Army created the first antecedent of the Air Force in 1907, which through a succession of changes of organization, titles, and missions advanced toward eventual separation 40 years later. The predecessor organizations leading up to today's U.S. Air Force are: September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... The National Security Act of 1947 signed July 26, 1947 by U.S. President Harry S. Truman realigned and reorganized the United States armed forces, foreign policy, and Intelligence Community apparatus in the aftermath of World War II. It merged the United States Department of War and the United States... The United States Department of Defense, abbreviated as DoD or DOD and sometimes called the Defense Department, is a civilian Cabinet organization of the United States government. ... Four aircraft carriers, Principe-de-Asturias, USS Wasp, USS Forrestal and HMS Invincible (front-to-back), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier, light V/STOL carriers, and an amphibious carrier. ... This article is about a military strategy involving land troops dispatched from naval ships. ...

The Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps (1907-1914) was the first progenitor of the United States Air Force. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... July 18 is the 199th day (200th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 166 days remaining. ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, was the name of the military aviation service of the United States Army from 1914 to 1918, and a direct ancestor of the United States Air Force. ... July 18 is the 199th day (200th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 166 days remaining. ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... May 20 is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (141st in leap years). ... Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... May 20 is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (141st in leap years). ... Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... The United States Army Air Service was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... The United States Army Air Forces, or USAAF, was a part of the U.S. military during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...

World War I and between wars

In 1918, upon the United States' entry into World War I, the first major U.S. aviation combat force was created when an Air Service was formed as part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). Major General Mason Patrick commanded the Air Service of the AEF; his deputy was Brigadier General Billy Mitchell. These aviation units, some of which were trained in France, provided tactical support for the U.S. Army, especially during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne offensives. Among the aces of the AEF Air Service were Captain Eddie Rickenbacker and 2nd Lieutenant Frank Luke. Image File history File links US_Army_Air_Roundel. ... Image File history File links US_Army_Air_Roundel. ... The Tricolore cockade of France. ... The modern proportion RAF roundel A roundel in heraldry is any circular shape; in military use it is a distinctive, mostly round insignia or identifying emblem, commonly painted today on military aircraft to indicate which nations air force or navy they belong to. ... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Franz... Officers of the American Expeditionary Forces and the Baker mission The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF was the United States military force in World War I. The AEF helped the French defend the Western Front during the Aisne Offensive in May. ... Mason M. Patrick (December 13, 1863–January 29, 1942) Born at Lewisburg, West Virginia, he graduated from West Point in 1886. ... Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, United States Army Air Service William L. (Billy) Mitchell (December 28, 1879 â€“ February 19, 1936) was an American general who is regarded as the father of the U.S. Air Force. ... Combatants United States German Empire Commanders John J. Pershing Georg von der Marwitz Strength American Expeditionary Force German Fifth Army Casualties 7,000 2000 dead and 5500 wounded The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12 - 15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force... The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was a major battle of World War I. It was the biggest operation and victory of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in that war. ... Fighter Ace is an online multiplayer computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots. ... Eddie Rickenbacker (born October 8, 1890 â€“ July 27, 1973) was best known as a World War I fighter ace. ... Lt. ...

Concurrent with the creation of this combat force, the U.S. Army's aviation establishment in the United States was removed from control of the Signal Corps and placed directly under the United States Secretary of War. An assistant secretary was created to direct the Army Air Service, which had dual responsibilities for development and procurement of aircraft, and raising and training of air units. With the end of the First World War, the AEF's Air Service was dissolved and the Army Air Service in the United States largely demobilized. The Secretary of War was a member of the Presidents Cabinet, beginning with George Washingtons administration. ... The United States Army Air Service was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. ...

In 1920, the Air Service became a branch of the Army and in 1926 was reorganized into the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). During this period, the USAAC began experimenting with new techniques, including air-to-air refueling and the development of the B-9 and the Martin B-10, the first all-metal monoplane bombers, and new fighters. In 1937, the B-17 Flying Fortress made its first appearance. In a spectacular feat of navigation, three B-17s intercepted the Italian passenger liner Rex at sea. Though intended to demonstrate the ability of the Air Corps to defend the nation's coasts, the mission also indicated the emerging doctrine within the Air Corps of the supremacy of strategic bombing. It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Aerial refueling, also called in-flight refueling (IFR) or air-to-air refueling (AAR), is the practice of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight. ... The Boeing B-9 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber designed for the United States Army Air Corps. ... A B-10 being flown during a training session at Maxwell Field. ... The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed for the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). ... The SS Rex was a product of Navigazione Generale Italiana (later become Italian Line - Italia SocietÃ di Navigazione). ... The remains of German town of Wesel after intensive Allied area bombing in 1945 (destruction rate 98 % of all buildings) // Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war style campaign that attempts to destroy the economic ability of a nation-state to wage war. ...

In 1935, as a result of recommendations from two civilian review boards, the next advancement toward independence for the Air Force occurred when all flying units, which heretofore had been distributed to various ground commands, were grouped together as an aerial task force under one air commander as the General Headquarters, Air Force. The Air Corps, headed by the Chief of the Air Corps, continued as before but now held responsibility only for supply, airfields, and training, in effect splitting the Air Force into two parts. Both components were commanded by major generals (Frank Andrews and Oscar Westover, followed by Henry H. ("Hap") Arnold). Frank Maxwell Andrews Lt. ... Oscar Westover (July 23, 1883 - September 21, 1938) was a major general and chief of the United States Army Air Corps when he died. ... Henry Hap Arnold Henry Harley Hap Arnold was an aviation pioneer and commander of the United States Army Air Corps (from 1938), commander of the U.S. Army Air Forces (from 1941 until 1945) and the first General of the Air Force (in 1949. ...

During World War I, aviation technology developed rapidly; however, the Army's reluctance to use the new technology began to make airmen think that as long as the Army controlled aviation, development would be stunted and a potentially valuable force neglected. Air Corps senior officer Billy Mitchell began to campaign for Air Corps independence. But his campaign offended many and resulted in a court martial in 1925 that effectively ended his career. His followers, including future aviation leaders "Hap" Arnold and Carl Spaatz, saw the lack of public, congressional, and military support that Mitchell received and decided that America was not ready for an independent air force. Under the leadership of its chief of staff Mason Patrick and, later, Arnold, the Air Corps waited until the time to fight for independence arose again. Carl Tooey Spaatz (June 28, 1891 â€“ July 14, 1974) was an American general in World War II. Carl Andrew Spatz (Spaatz added the second a in 1937 at the request of his wife and daughters to clarify the pronunciation of the name) was born on June 28, 1891, in Boyertown...

World War II

The Air Force came of age in World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt took the lead, calling for a vastly enlarged air force based on long-range strategic bombing. Organizationally it became largely independent in 1941, when the Army Air Corps became a part of the new U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), and the GHQ Air Force was redesignated the subordinate Combat Command. In the major reorganization of the Army by War Department Circular 59, effective March 9, 1942, the newly created United States Army Air Forces gained equal voice with the Army and Navy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and complete autonomy from the Army Ground Forces and the Services of Supply. The reorganization also eliminated both Combat Command and the Air Corps as organizations (the latter became a combat arm until 1947) in favor of a streamlined system of commands and numbered air forces for decentralized management of the burgeoning Army Air Forces. Image File history File links USAAC_Roundel. ... Image File history File links USAAC_Roundel. ... The modern proportion RAF roundel A roundel in heraldry is any circular shape; in military use it is a distinctive, mostly round insignia or identifying emblem, commonly painted today on military aircraft to indicate which nations air force or navy they belong to. ... 1943 United States Army Air Force strategic bombing raid on the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. ... 1943 United States Army Air Force strategic bombing raid on the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. ... Schweinfurt is a city in the Unterfranken region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km North-East of WÃ¼rzburg. ... Combatants Allied Powers: United Kingdom France Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Axis Powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33... FDR redirects here. ... The United States Army Air Forces, or USAAF, was a part of the U.S. military during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States of America symbol The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a grouping comprising the Chiefs of service of each major branch of the armed services in the United States armed forces. ...

The reorganization merged all aviation elements of the former air arm into the Army Air Forces. Although the Air Corps still legally existed as an Army branch, the position of Chief of the Air Corps was left vacant, and the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps was dissolved. AAF leaders tried to completely eliminate the term "Air Corps."^{[citation needed]} However, people in and out of AAF who remembered the prewar designation often used the term "Air Corps" informally, as did the media.^[9]

Carl A. Spaatz took command of the Eighth Air Force in London in 1942; with General Ira Eaker he supervised the strategic bombing campaign. In late 1943, Spaatz was made commander of the new U.S. Strategic Air Forces, reporting directly to the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Spaatz began daylight bombing operations using the prewar doctrine of flying bombers in close formations, relying on their combined defensive firepower for protection from attacking enemy aircraft rather than supporting fighter escorts. The doctrine proved flawed when deep-penetration missions beyond the range of escort fighters were attempted, because German fighter planes overwhelmed U.S. formations, shooting down bombers in excess of "acceptable" loss rates, especially in combination with the vast number of flak anti-aircraft batteries defending Germany's major targets. American fliers took heavy casualties during raids on the oil refineries of Ploieşti, Romania, and the ball-bearing factories at Schweinfurt and Regensburg, Germany, and it was the loss rate in crews and not materiel that brought about a pullback from the strategic offensive in the autumn of 1943. Carl Tooey Spaatz (June 28, 1891_July 14, 1974) was an American general in World War II. Carl Andrew Spatz (Spaatz added the second a in 1937 at the request of his wife and daughters to clarify the pronunciation of the name) was born on June 28, 1891, in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. ... The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force (NAF) of the major command (MAJCOM) of Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force and it is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. ... Life Magazine, November 29, 1943. ... The Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCS) was the supreme military command for the western Allies during World War II. It was a body constituted from the British Chiefs of Staff Committee and the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging military aircraft in combat from the ground. ... County Prahova County Status County capital Mayor Emil CalotÄƒ, Social Democratic Party, since 2000 Population (2002) 232,452 Geographical coordinates , Web site http://www. ... It has been suggested that the section World War II from the article Schweinfurt be merged into this article or section. ...

The Eighth Air Force had attempted to use both the P-47 and P-38 as escorts, but while the Thunderbolt was a capable dog-fighter it lacked the range, even with the addition of drop tanks to extend its range, and the Lightning proved mechanically unreliable in the frigid altitudes at which the missions were fought. Bomber protection was greatly improved after the introduction of North American P-51 Mustang fighters in Europe. With its built-in extended range and competitive or superior performance characteristics in comparison to all existing German piston-engined fighters, the Mustang was an immediately available solution to the crisis. In January 1944 the Eighth Air Force obtained priority in equipping its groups, so that ultimately 14 of its 15 groups fielded Mustangs. P-51 escorts began operations in February 1944 and increased their numbers rapidly, so that the Luftwaffe suffered increasing fighter losses in aerial engagements beginning with Big Week in early 1944. Allied fighters were also granted free rein in attacking German fighter airfields, both in pre-planned missions and while returning to base from escort duties, and the major Luftwaffe threat against Allied bombers was severely diminished by D-Day. The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, or Jug as it was known, was one of the main US Army Air Force (USAAF) fighters of World War II. The P-47 was a big, rugged, overbuilt aircraft that was effective in air combat but proved particularly useful as a fighter-bomber. ... The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was one of the most important American fighters of the Second World War. ... Typical cartoon representations of thunderbolts A thunderbolt is a traditional expression for a discharge of lightning or a symbolic representation thereof. ... Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of electricity, usually, but not always, during rain storms, and frequently during volcanic eruptions or dust storms. ... The North American P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II and became one of the conflicts most successful and recognizable aircraft. ... The Big Week (20 February - 25 February 1944) was an American bombing campaign during World War II. On February 20, 1944, as part of the European strategic bombing campaign of the United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF) launched a series of missions against Third Reich that became known as Big... Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ...

In the Pacific Theater of Operations, the USAAF provided major tactical support under General George Kenney to Douglas MacArthur in the Southwest Pacific theater. Kenney's pilots invented the skip-bombing technique against Japanese ships. Kenney's forces claimed destruction of 11,900 Japanese planes and 1.7 million tons of shipping. A map of the Pacific Theatre. ... George Kenney George Churchill Kenney (August 6, 1889 - August 9, 1977) was one of the most brilliant and successful United States Army Air Forces generals of World War II. He excelled in his his role as commander of the Allied air forces in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) from August... Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 - April 5, 1964), was a famous American general who played a prominent role in the Pacific theater of World War II. He was poised to command the invasion of Japan in November 1945 but was instead instructed to accept their surrender on September 2, 1945. ...

The USAAF created the Twentieth Air Force to employ long-range B-29 Superfortress bombers in strategic attacks on Japanese cities. The use of forward bases in China (needed to be able to reach Japan by the heavily-laden B-29's) was ineffective because of the difficulty in logistically supporting the bases entirely by air from its main bases in India, and because of a persistent threat against the Chinese airfields by the Japanese army. After the Mariana Islands were captured in mid-1944, providing locations for air bases that could be supplied by sea, Arnold moved all B-29 operations there by April 1945 and made General Curtis LeMay his bomber commander (reporting directly to Arnold, who personally commanded Twentieth Air Force until July). LeMay reasoned that the Japanese economy, much of which was cottage industry in dense urban areas where manufacturing and assembly plants were also located, was particularly vulnerable to area attack, and abandoned inefficient high-altitude precision bombing in favor of low-level incendiary bombings, aimed at destroying large urban areas. Tokyo suffered a firestorm in which over 100,000 persons died. At the same time the B-29 was also employed in wide-spread mining of Japanese harbors and sea lanes. Neither Arnold and General Carl Spaatz wanted to use the atomic bomb, but were ordered by Secretary of War Henry Stimson and President Harry Truman to use the new weapon against Japan during the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and other military organizations afterwards. ... The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Islas de los Ladrones meaning Islands of Thieves) are a group of islands made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the western Pacific Ocean. ... Curtis Emerson LeMay (November 15, 1906 â€“ October 1, 1990) was a General in the United States Air Force and the vice presidential running mate of independent candidate George C. Wallace in 1968. ... The use of the term has expanded, and is used to refer to any event which allows a large number of people to lalalawork part time. ... Incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, or white phosphorus. ... Tokyo , literally Eastern capital) is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, the home of the Japanese Imperial Family, and the de facto[1] capital of Japan. ... B-29 bombers were used to drop hundreds of thousands of tons of explosives onto Japanese cities during the war. ... A naval mine is a stationary self-contained explosive device placed in water, to destroy ships and/or submarines. ... Carl Tooey Spaatz (June 28, 1891 â€“ July 14, 1974) was an American general in World War II. Carl Andrew Spatz (Spaatz added the second a in 1937 at the request of his wife and daughters to clarify the pronunciation of the name) was born on June 28, 1891, in Boyertown... Henry L. Stimson Henry Lewis Stimson (September 21, 1867 - October 20, 1950) was an American politician. ... For the victim of Mt. ... The Fat Man mushroom cloud resulting from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rises 18 km (11 mi, 60,000 ft) into the air from the hypocenter. ...

Cold War and war in Korea

In practice, the U.S. Army Air Forces was virtually independent of the Army during World War II, but it demanded full independence. It gained it, over the continuing objections of the Navy, when the United States Department of the Air Force was created by the National Security Act of 1947. It became effective September 18, 1947 when the first secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington, took office. The United States Army Air Forces, or USAAF, was a part of the U.S. military during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... Seal The United States Department of the Air Force was formed in 1949 and is a component agency of the United States Department of Defense. ... The National Security Act of 1947 signed July 26, 1947 by U.S. President Harry S. Truman realigned and reorganized the United States armed forces, foreign policy, and Intelligence Community apparatus in the aftermath of World War II. It merged the United States Department of War and the United States... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... William Stuart Symington William Stuart Symington (June 26, 1901â€“December 14, 1988) was a U.S. businessman and political figure. ...

Conflict over post-war military administration, especially with regard to the roles and missions to be assigned to the Air Force and the U.S. Navy, led to an incident called the "Revolt of the Admirals" in the late 1940s. The Revolt of the Admirals was a late 1940s episode during which several high-ranking officers of the United States Navy publicly disagreed with the United States governments plans for the military forces. ...

After World War II, relations between the United States and the Soviet Union began to deteriorate, and the period in history known as the Cold War began. The United States entered an arms race with the Soviet Union and competition aimed at increasing each nation's influence throughout the world. In response, the United States expanded its military presence throughout the world. The USAF opened air bases throughout Europe, and later in Japan and South Korea. The United States also built air bases on the British overseas territories of British Indian Ocean Territory and Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. The Cold War was the period of conflict, tension and competition between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies from the mid 1940s until the early 1990s. ... Europe at its furthest extent, reaching to the Urals. ... Location of the British Overseas Territories (British Antarctic Territory and Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus not shown) A British Overseas Territory is one of 14 territories which are under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but not considered part of the United Kingdom itself. ... Anthem: God Save the Queen Capital Georgetown Largest city Georgetown Official languages English Government Dependency of St. ... For other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation) The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ...

The first test for the USAF during the Cold War came in 1948, when Communist authorities in Eastern Germany cut off road and air transportation to West Berlin. The USAF, along with the Royal Air Force (RAF), supplied the city during the Berlin airlift, using C-121 Constellations and the C-54 Skymasters. The efforts of the USAF and British RAF saved the city from starvation and forced the Soviets to back down in their blockade. This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ... Eastern Germany refers to: East Germany (communist state) Historical Eastern Germany Eastern provinces of Imperial Germany: East Prussia West Prussia Provinz Posen Silesia (Prussian province) Lower Silesia (Prussian province) Upper Silesia (Prussian province) Pomerania (Prussian province) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that... Boroughs of West Berlin West Berlin was the name given to the western part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Soviet Union blocked Western rail and road access to West Berlin from June 24, 1948 - May 11, 1949. ... TWA was one of the most well-known Constellation operators. ... The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Force in World War II. Like the C-47 Skytrain, the C-54 Skymaster was derived from a civilian airliner (the DC-4). ...

During the Korean War, the Far East Air Forces (FEAF) were among the first units to respond to the invasion by North Korea, but quickly lost its main airbase at Kimpo, South Korea. Forced to provide close air support to the defenders of the Pusan pocket from bases in Japan, the FEAF also conducted a strategic bombing campaign against North Korea's war-making potential simultaneously. General Douglas B. MacArthur's landing at Inchon in September 1950 enabled the FEAF to return to Korea and develop bases from which they supported MacArthur's drive to the Korean-Chinese border. Combatants United Nations: Republic of Korea Australia Belgium Canada Colombia Ethiopia France Greece Netherlands New Zealand Philippines South Africa Thailand Turkey United Kingdom United States Medical staff: Denmark India Italy Norway Sweden Communist states: Democratic Peopleâ€™s Republic of Korea Peopleâ€™s Republic of China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee... Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces Pacific The United States Pacific Air Forces (USPACAF or PACAF) is one of nine major U.S. Air Force commands and one of two located outside the continental United States, the other being U.S. Air Forces Europe. ... Gimpo An alias for Alan Goodrick. ... Close air support (often abbreviated CAS) is the use of military aircraft in a ground attack role against targets in close proximity to friendly troops, in support of ground combat operations. ... Pūsan is also a Vedic Hindu god. ... MacArthur landing at Leyte Beach in 1944. ... Combatants UN forces: United States; United Kingdom; South Korea; Canada; Australia; Netherlands; France North Korea Commanders Douglas MacArthur Arthur Dewey Struble Jeong Il-Gwon Kim Il-sung Choi Yong-Kun Strength 40,000[1] ? Casualties 566 killed 2,713 wounded 14,000 casualties[2] 7,000 captured[2] The Battle... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

When the Chinese People's Liberation Army attacked in December 1950, the USAF provided tactical air support. The introduction of Soviet-made MiG-15 jet fighters caused problems for the B-29s used to bomb North Korea, but the USAF countered the MiGs with its new F-86 Sabre jet fighters. Although both air superiority and close air support missions were successful, a lengthy attempt to interdict communist supply lines by air attack failed and was replaced by a systematic campaign to inflict as much economic cost to North Korea and the Chinese forces as long as war persisted, including attacks on the capital city of Pyongyang and against the North Korean hydroelectric system. This does not cite its references or sources. ... The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (NATO reporting name Fagot) was a jet fighter developed for the USSR. History Design began under the bureau designation I-310, which first flew in 1947. ... The North American F-86 Sabre was a subsonic combat aircraft developed for the US Air Force. ... Air superiority is the dominance in the air power of one side air forces of another side during a military campaign. ... Close air support (often abbreviated CAS) is the use of military aircraft in a ground attack role against targets in close proximity to friendly troops, in support of ground combat operations. ... The word interdict usually refers to an ecclesiastical penalty in the Roman Catholic Church. ... Not to be confused with PyeongChang. ... Combatants Korean Peoples Army Soviet Air Force United Nations Command Far East Air Forces Task Force 77 Commanders unknown Lt. ...

Vietnam War

The USAF was heavily deployed during the Vietnam War. The first bombing raids against North Vietnam occurred in 1964, following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. In 1965, a sustained bombing campaign began, code-named Operation Rolling Thunder. This campaign's purpose was to destroy the will of the North Vietnamese to fight, destroy industrial bases and air defences, and to stop the flow of men and supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, while forcing North Vietnam into peace negotiations. The USAF dropped more bombs in all combat operations in Vietnam during the period 1965-68 than it did during World War II,^[10] and the Rolling Thunder campaign lasted until the U.S. presidential election of 1968. Although heavily damaging the North Vietnamese economy, the overall operation was a failure. Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam Peopleâ€™s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN), or less commonly, Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Vietnamese: Viá»‡t Nam DÃ¢n Chá»§ Cá»™ng HÃ²a), also known as North Vietnam, was proclaimed by Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, September 2nd1945 and was recognized by the Peoples Republic of China and the... Chart showing the US Navyâ€™s interpretation of the events of the first part of the Gulf of Tonkin incident The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was an alleged pair of attacks (the second of which did not occur) by naval forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam against two American... Combatants United States (U.S.) Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) Commanders Joseph H. Moore William W. Momyer George S. Brown Phung The Tai (Air Defense) Nguyen Van Tien (Air Force) Casualties U.S. Air Force, 381 KIA or MIA/222 POWs (23 died in captivity, 1... The Ho Chi Minh trail was a logistical system that ran from the Democratic Republic of (North) Vietnam (DRV) to South Vietnam through the neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia. ... ...

The USAF also played a critical role in defeating the Easter Offensive of 1972. The rapid redeployment of fighters, bombers, and attack aircraft help the South Vietnamese Army repel the invasion. Operation Linebacker demonstrated to both the North and South Vietnamese that even without significant U.S. Army ground forces, the United States could still influence the war. The air war for the United States ended with Operation Linebacker II, also known as the "Christmas Bombings." These helped to finalize the Paris peace negotiations. The Eastertide Offensive was a military campaign in the Vietnam War. ... Operation Linebacker was the name of a United States military operation during the Vietnam War. ... Combatants United States (U.S.) Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) Commanders John W. Vogt, Jr. ... Signing the peace accords. ...

Combat operations since 1975

The USAF modernized its tactical air forces in the late 1970's with the introduction of the F-15, A-10, and F-16 fighters, and the implementation of realistic training scenarios under the aegis of Red Flag. In turn it also upgraded the equipment and capabilities of its Air Reserve Components (ARC) by the equipping of both the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve with first-line aircraft. Expanding to 40 fighter wings and drawing further on the lessons of the Vietnam War, the USAF also dedicated units and aircraft to Electronic Warfare (EW), Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), and Joint Special Operations. The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the U.S. Air Force to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. ... Primary user United States Air Force Number built 715 Unit cost US$9. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States and used by dozens of countries all over the world. ... Historically, and most generally, the red flag is an international symbol for the blood of angry workers. ... The Air National Guard (ANG) is part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Air Force (USAF). ... The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia United States. ... Electronic warfare (EW) has three main components: Electronic Attack (EA) This is the active use of the electromagnetic spectrum to deny its use by an adversary. ... AGM-88 HARM missile on a US Navy aircraft SEAD (pronunciation: see-add), or Suppression of Enemy Air Defences operations are military actions to suppress enemy surface-based air defences (SAMs and AAA) primarily in, but not limited to, the first hours of an attack. ... Emblem of the United States Special Operations Command. ...

The USAF provided attack, airlift, and combat support capability for operations in Iran in 1980, Grenada in 1983, Libya in 1986, and Panama in 1989. Lessons learned in these operations were applied to its force structure and doctrine, and became the basis for successful air operations in the 1990s and after September 11, 2001. This article is about the date September 11 in general. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Gulf War

The USAF provided the bulk of the Allied air power during the Gulf War in 1991, flying alongside aircraft of the U.S. Navy and the RAF. The F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter's capabilities were shown on the first night of the air war when it was able to bomb central Baghdad and avoid the sophisticated Iraqi anti-aircraft defenses. The USAF, along with the U.S. Navy and the RAF, later patrolled the skies of northern and southern Iraq after the war to ensure that Iraq's air defence capability could not be rebuilt. Combatants UN Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 378 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 dead, 75,000 wounded The Gulf War (2 August 1990 â€“ 28 February 1991) was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of approximately 30 nations... The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, nicknamed â€œThe Black Jetâ€[2], is the worlds first operational aircraft completely designed around stealth technology. ... Baghdad (Arabic ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ...

Bosnia and Kosovo

The USAF led NATO action in Bosnia in 1994 with air strikes against the Bosnian Serbs. This was the first time that USAF aircraft took part in military action as part of a NATO mission. The USAF led the strike forces as the only NATO air force with the capability to launch significant air strikes over a long period of time. NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation[2] (NATO; French: ; also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance) is a military alliance established on 4 April 1949 by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty. ... Motto: none Anthem: Intermeco Capital (and largest city) Sarajevo Official languages Bosnian,Croatian,Serbian Government Republic - Presidency members NebojÅ¡a RadmanoviÄ‡ (Presiding Chair, Serb) Haris SilajdÅ¾iÄ‡ (Vice President, (Bosniak) Å½eljko KomÅ¡iÄ‡ (Vice President, (Croat) - Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikola Å piriÄ‡ Independence from Yugoslavia - Declared March 1... Serbs (Serbian: Ð¡Ñ€Ð±Ð¸ or Srbi) are a South Slavic people who live mainly in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and, to a lesser extent, in Croatia. ...

Later, the USAF led NATO air strikes against Serbia during the Kosovo War. NATO forces were later criticised for bombing civilian targets in Belgrade, including a strike on a civilian television station, and a later attack which destroyed the Chinese embassy. Anthem: BoÅ¾e pravde (English: God of Justice) Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian written with the Cyrillic alphabet1 Government Republic - President Boris TadiÄ‡ - Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment - Formation 8th century - Independence c. ... The term Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict is often used to describe two sequential and at times parallel armed conflicts (a civil war followed by an international war) in the southern Serbian province called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), part of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. ... Belgrade (Serbian: Ð‘ÐµÐ¾Ð³Ñ€Ð°Ð´ or Beograd ) is the capital and largest city of Serbia. ... On May 7 1999 in Operation Allied Force, NATO bombs hit the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, killing three Chinese journalists and outraging Chinese public opinion. ...

Afghanistan and Iraq

In 2001, the USAF was deployed against the Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Operating from Diego Garcia, B-52 Stratofortress and B-1 Lancer bombers attacked Taliban positions. The USAF deployed daisy cutter bombs, dropped from C-130 Hercules cargo planes, for the first time since the Vietnam War. During this conflict, the USAF opened up bases in Central Asia for the first time. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1956x2100, 518 KB) Summary Aircraft of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and coalition counterparts stationed together at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in southwest Asia, fly over the desert. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1956x2100, 518 KB) Summary Aircraft of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and coalition counterparts stationed together at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in southwest Asia, fly over the desert. ... Airmen from the honor guard and the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group perform a retreat ceremony The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (379 AEW) is a wing of the United States Air Force. ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105 in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft, first manufactured in 1956 and expected to remain in service into the 2040s. ... For the game, see F-15 Strike Eagle (computer game) The F-15E Strike Eagle is a modern United States all-weather strike fighter, designed for long-range interdiction of enemy ground targets deep behind enemy lines. ... The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, nicknamed â€œThe Black Jetâ€[2], is the worlds first operational aircraft completely designed around stealth technology. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multi-role jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics in the United States. ... The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine fighters, which was jointly developed by the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. ... An F/A-18 taking off from USS Kitty Hawk The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. ... Flag flown by the Taliban. ... Diego Garcia () is an atoll located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, some 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) south of Indias southern coast. ... The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range jet strategic bomber flown by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1954. ... The Boeing (formerly Rockwell International) B-1B Lancer is a long-range strategic bomber in service with the United States Air Force (USAF). ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for military forces worldwide. ...

The USAF was deployed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Following the defeat of Saddam Hussein’s regime, the USAF took over Baghdad International Airport as a base. USAF aircraft are used to provide support to Coalition and Iraqi forces in major operations to eliminate insurgent centers of activity and supply in north and west Iraq. Combatants Coalition Forces: United States United Kingdom South Korea Australia Poland Romania others. ... Inside view of the terminal, showing an abandoned FIDS in front of empty check-in desks and passport control. ...

Humanitarian Operations

The primary source for the humanitarian operations of the USAF is the United States Air Force Supervisory Examination Study Guide (2005) Image File history File links Information_icon. ...

Berlin Airlift (Operation Vittles), 1948-1949

The Soviet blockade of Berlin closed off all surface access to the city of Berlin. If left unchallenged the Soviet Union would have permanent control of all of Berlin. In the Berlin Airlift the USAF built a "Luftbrücke" or air bridge to provide relief. For 15 months, the 2.2 million inhabitants of the Western sectors of Berlin were sustained by air power alone as the operation flew in 2.33 million tons of supplies on 277,569 flights. The Soviets' eventual capitulation and dismantling of the surface blockade represented one of the great Western victories of the cold war-without a bomb having been dropped-and laid the foundation for NATO. Occupation zones after 1945 The Berlin Blockade (June 24, 1948 to May 11, 1949) became one of the first major crises of the new Cold War, when the Soviet Union blocked railroad and street access to West Berlin. ... Occupation zones after 1945 The Berlin Blockade (June 24, 1948 to May 11, 1949) became one of the first major crises of the new Cold War, when the Soviet Union blocked railroad and street access to West Berlin. ...

Operation Safe Haven I and II, 1956-1957

Military Air Transport Service's (MATS) 1608th Air Transport Wing from Charleston AFB, South Carolina and 1611th Air Transport Wing from McGuire AFB, New Jersey airlifted over 10,000 Hungarian refugees to the United States. President Eisenhower approved asylum for the refugees who fled Hungary after Soviet forces crushed an anti-communist uprising there. Charleston Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located in North Charleston, South Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Area Ranked 40th - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 kmÂ²) - Width 200 miles (320 km) - Length 260 miles (420 km) - % water 6 - Latitude 32Â°430N to 35... McGuire AFB is a town located in Burlington County, New Jersey. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area Ranked 47th - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 kmÂ²) - Width 70 miles (110 km) - Length 150 miles (240 km) - % water 14. ... Dwight David Ike Eisenhower (October 14, 1890–March 28, 1969), American soldier and politician, was the 34th President of the United States (1953–1961) and supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, with the rank of General of the Army. ...

Operations Babylift, New Life, Frequent Wind, and New Arrivals, 1975

Following the fall of Cambodia and South Vietnam to Communist forces, transports from 11 Air Force wings and other units airlifted over 50,000 refugees to the United States. These airlifts constituted the largest aerial evacuation in history. Air Force units also moved 5,000 relief workers and more than 8,500 tons of supplies.

Operation Provide Comfort, 1991

Following the Persian Gulf War, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein attacked the Kurdish population in northern Iraq. In response to the unfolding human tragedy, Air Force transports in support of the operation provided more than 7,000 tons of blankets, tents, food, and more to the displaced Kurds and airlifted thousands of refugees and medical personnel. Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (Arabic: [1]; April 28, 1937[2] â€“ December 30, 2006[3]), was the President of Iraq from July 16, 1979, until April 9, 2003. ...

Operation Sea Angel, 1991

Operation Provide Hope, 1992-1993

Provided 6,000 tons of food, medicine, and other cargo to republics of the former Soviet Union.

Organization

The Air Force is managed by the Department of the Air Force lead by the Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF), and consisting of the Air Staff and field units. Seal The United States Department of the Air Force was formed in 1949 and is a component agency of the United States Department of Defense. ... The Secretary of the Air Force is the civilian head of the United States Department of the Air Force, a component organization of the Department of Defense. ... Air Staff Organizational Chart The Air Staff is Headed by the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (currently General John P. Jumper). ...

SECAF

The Headquarters (HQ) of the SECAF includes the Secretary, Under Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, General Counsel, the Inspector General, Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee, and other offices and positions established by law or the SECAF. The Office of the SECAF has responsibility for acquisition and auditing, comptroller issues (including financial management), inspector general matters, legislative affairs, and public affairs.

The current Secretary of the Air Force is Michael Wynne. As of November 4, 2005, Michael Wynne has served as the current Secretary of the Air Force External Links Official Biography [1] Categories: U.S. Secretaries of the Air Force | United States military biographical stubs ...

Air Staff

The Air Staff primarily consists of military advisors to the CSAF and the SECAF. This includes the Chief of Staff, Vice Chief of Staff, and Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF), four deputy chiefs of staff (DCS), the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General, The Judge Advocate General, the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, and additional military and civilian personnel as the SECAF deems necessary. The Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (CSAF) serves as the senior uniformed United States Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training, and equipage of more than 700,000 active-duty, National Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. ... CMSAF Chevron (1 Nov 2004 - present) CMSAF Chevron (Apr 1964 - 31 Oct 2004) The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the United States Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests, as appropriate... The Surgeon General of the United States Air Force is the senior-most Medical Service officer in the U.S. Air Force. ... The mission of the Judge Advocate Generals Department is to provide professional legal services needed to accomplish the mission of the United States Air Force and maintain the highest degree of effectiveness and readiness. ...

The current Chief of Staff of the Air Force is General T. Michael Moseley. General T. Micheal Moseley T. Michael Moseley is the current Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. ...

The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is the senior enlisted person in the Air Force. Currently, the position is held by Chief Master Sergeant Rodney J. McKinley. CMSAF Chevron (1 Nov 2004 - present) CMSAF Chevron (Apr 1964 - 31 Oct 2004) The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the United States Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests, as appropriate... Chief Master Sergeant is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Master Sergeant, and is a non-commissioned officer. ... Rodney J. McKinley, official photo Chief Master Sergeant Rodney J. McKinley is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for more than 55,000 Airmen in Pacific Air Forces; he is stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. ...

Subordinate Commands and echelons

The Department of the Air Force subordinate commands and echelons are the Major Commands (MAJCOMs), field operating agencies (FOA), and direct reporting units (DRU).

Major Commands

The USAF is organized on a functional basis in the United States and a geographical basis overseas. A major command (MAJCOM) represents a major Air Force subdivision having a specific portion of the Air Force mission. Each MAJCOM is directly subordinate to HQ USAF. MAJCOMs are interrelated and complementary, providing offensive, defensive, and support elements. An operational command consists (in whole or in part) of strategic, tactical, space, or defense forces; or of flying forces that directly support such forces. A support command may provide supplies, weapon systems, support systems, operational support equipment, combat material, maintenance, surface transportation, education and training, or special services and other supported organizations.

The USAF experienced its last major reorganization of commands in 1992. On July 5, 2006, the USAF stood up the Air Force Network Operations (AFNETOPS) Command at Barksdale Air Force Base; on November 2, 2006, it was announced that this organization would be transformed into a new major command, the Air Force Cyberspace Command.^[11] The USAF is currently organized into ten MAJCOMS (8 Functional and 2 Geographic), with the Air National Guard component reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HQ USAF). ^[12] July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States military base near Bossier City, Louisiana. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Air Force Cyberspace Command (AFCC) is a United States Air Force major command whose development was announced by the Secretary of the Air Force on November 2, 2006. ... The Headquarters for the United States Air Force (HQ USAF) are located at The Pentagon in Washington D.C. Categories: Military stubs ...

ACC bases and deploments The Air Combat Command (ACC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force whose mission is to provide air combat forces (mostly aircraft), to other commands, including both commands within the Air Force as well as the United States Unified Combatant Commands that... General Ronald E. Keys is Commander, Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and Air Component Commander for U.S. Joint Forces Command and U.S. Northern Command. ... Langley Air Force Base (IATA: LFI, ICAO: KLFI) is located at in Hampton, Virginia is home of Air Combat Command. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area Ranked 35th - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 kmÂ²) - Width 200 miles (320 km) - Length 430 miles (690 km) - % water 7. ... Air Education and Training Command (AETC), with headquarters at Randolph AFB near San Antonio, Texas, was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. ... GEN William R. Looney III General William R. Looney III is Commander, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. ... Randolph Air Force Base (Randolph AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located in Bexar County, Texas near San Antonio. ... Official language(s) None See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area Ranked 2nd - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 kmÂ²) - Width 773 miles (1,244 km) - Length 790 miles (1,270 km) - % water 2. ... Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command. ... General Bruce Carlson General Bruce Carlson serves as Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. ... Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties, adjacent to Riverside, Fairborn, Beavercreek, and Dayton, Ohio. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area Ranked 34th - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 kmÂ²) - Width 220 miles (355 km) - Length 220 miles (355 km) - % water 8. ... This article or section should include material from U.S. Air Force Reserve Shield of the Air Force Reserve Command. ... Robins Air Force Base (Robins AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located in Houston County, Georgia. ... Air Force Space Command emblem Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) is a major command of the United States Air Force with headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, USA. It was created on September 1, 1982. ... Kevin P. Chilton (b November 3, 1954) is a Major General in the USAF who was also a NASA astronaut. ... Peterson Air Force Base (Peterson AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located in El Paso County, Colorado near Colorado Springs. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is the major command charged with overseeing the United States Air Forces Special Operations Forces (SOF). ... Hurlburt Field is a base of the United States Air Force located in Okaloosa County, Florida on the Eglin Air Force Base reservation immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, and the air force component of United States Transportation Command. ... General Duncan J. McNabb is Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois Air Mobility Commandâ€™s mission is to provide rapid, global mobility and sustainment for Americaâ€™s armed forces. ... Scott Air Force Base (Scott AFB) (IATA: BLV, ICAO: KBLV) is an base of the United States Air Force in St. ... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area Ranked 25th - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 390 miles (629 km) - % water 4. ... Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. ... General William T. Hobbins General William T. Hobbins is Commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe; Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein; and Director, Joint Air Power Competency Center, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. ... Boeing C-17A Lot XII Globemaster III Serial 00-0172 Spirit of the Cascades at the Ramstein cargo terminal. ... Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces Pacific The United States Pacific Air Forces (USPACAF or PACAF) is one of nine major U.S. Air Force commands and one of two located outside the continental United States, the other being U.S. Air Forces Europe. ... Paul V. Hester is a General in the U.S. Air Force and the current head of the Pacific Air Forces. ... Hickam Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force base located in the city and county of Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area Ranked 43rd - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 kmÂ²) - Width n/a miles (n/a km) - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km) - % water 41. ... The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, (, ), is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers in the United States Air Force. ... Lt. ... Air Force Academy is a census-designated place located in El Paso County, Colorado. ... Colorado Springs is a middle-sized city, located just east of the geographic center of the state of Colorado in the United States. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... Emblem The Air Force District of Washington (AFDW) is a United States Air Force Major Command organization setup to handle operations in the Washington, DC region (also known as the National Capital Region or NCR). AFDW is headquartered on Bolling Air Force Base in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, DC... Bolling Air Force Base, in Southwest Washington, DC, is named for Col. ... ... The Air National Guard (ANG) is part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Air Force (USAF). ... The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located at 48 N. Rotary Road, Arlington, Virginia 22211 (Map). ... ...

Field Operating Agencies (FOA)

Field operating agencies (FOA) are a subdivision of the Air Force and report directly to a HQ USAF functional manager. FOAs perform field activities beyond the scope of any of the major commands. Their activities are specialized or associated with an Air Force wide mission. This is a list of Field Operating Agencies (FOA) in the United States Air Force that are active. ...

Numbered Air Forces (NAF)

The NAF is a level of command directly under a MAJCOM (Major Command). NAFs are tactical echelons that provide operational leadership and supervision. They are not management headquarters and do not have complete functional staffs. Many NAFs are responsible for MAJCOM operations in a specific geographic region or theater of operations. A NAF is assigned subordinate units, such as wings, groups, and squadrons. This is a list of Numbered Air Forces (NAF) of the United States Air Force Historically, a NAF is a level of command below a MAJCOM (Major Command), and above one or more Wings or independent Groups. ...

Wings

The wing is a level of command below the NAF. A wing has approximately 1,000 to 5,000 personnel. It is responsible for maintaining the installation and may have several squadrons in more than one dependent group. A wing may be an operational wing, an air base wing, or a specialized mission wing. It is usually commanded by a Colonel or Brigadier General. Image File history File links USAF_roundel. ... Image File history File links USAF_roundel. ... The modern proportion RAF roundel A roundel in heraldry is any circular shape; in military use it is a distinctive, mostly round insignia or identifying emblem, commonly painted today on military aircraft to indicate which nations air force or navy they belong to. ... Image File history File links Usaflvroundel. ... Image File history File links Usaflvroundel. ... This is a list of Wings in the United States Air Force. ... This origin of USAF wings is provided by the Organizational History Branch, Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, located with the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, to explain the Wing structure of the United States Air Force. ...

Operational Wing

An operational wing is one that has an operations group and related operational mission activity assigned to it. When an operational wing performs the primary mission of the base, it usually maintains and operates the base. In addition, an operational wing is capable of self-support in functional areas like maintenance, supply, and munitions, as needed. When an operational wing is a tenant organization, the host command provides it with base and logistics support.

Air Base Wing

Some bases which do not have operational wings or are too large or diverse for one wing will have an Air Base Wing (ABW). The ABW performs a support function rather than an operational mission. It maintains and operates a base. An air base wing often provides functional support to a MAJCOM headquarters.

Wings are composed of several groups with different functional responsibilities. Groups are composed of several squadrons, each of which has one major responsibility or flying one type of aircraft. Squadrons are composed of two or more flights.

Independent Groups

The last level of independent operation is the group level. When an organization is not part of the primary mission of the base it will be made an independent group. They may report to a wing (the 23rd Fighter Group at Pope AFB belongs to the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB) or they may be completely independent (the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess AFB). They may also be organized as an expeditionary unit, independent but too small to warrant a wing designation. The organization of the independent group is usually similar to the operations group, but with a few squadrons or flight from the support side added to make the organization more self-sufficient, but not large enough to become a wing. This is a list of Groups in the United States Air Force that are active but dont belong to wing that has host duties for the base it is stationed at. ... The 23d Fighter Group directs the flying and maintenance operations for the USAFs largest A/OA-10 fighter group, consisting of two combat-ready A/OA-10 squadrons, an operational support squadron, and a maintenance squadron. ... Pope Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force Base in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. ... The 4th Fighter Wing is a F-15E Strike Eagle unit based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base , North Carolina. ... Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base near Goldsboro, North Carolina. ... Dyess Air Force Base is located in Texas, on the western outskirts of the city of Abilene. ...

Operational Organization

The above organizational structure is responsible for the peacetime Organization, Equipping, and Training of aerospace units for operational missions. When required to support operational missions, the National Command Authority directs a Change in Operational Control (CHOP) of these units from their peacetime alignment to a Combatant Commander (COCOM). The term National Command Authority (or NCA) is used in United States military and government circles to refer to the ultimate lawful source of military orders. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ...

Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force

CHOPPED units are referred to as "forces". The top-level structure of these forces is the Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force (AETF). The AETF is the Air Force presentation of forces to a COCOM for the employment of Air Power. Each COCOM is supported by a standing Warfighting Headquarters (WFHQ) to provide planning and execution of aerospace forces in support of COCOM requirements. Each WFHQ consists of a Commander, Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR), and AFFOR staff, and an Air Operations Center (AOC). As needed to support multiple Joint Force Commanders (JFC) in the COCOM's Area of Responsibility (AOR), the WFHQ may deploy Air Component Coordinate Elements (ACCE) to liaise with the JFC.

Commander, Air Force Forces

The Commander, Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) is the senior Air Force officer responsible for the employment of Air Power is support of JFC objectives. The COMAFFOR has a special staff and an A-Staff to ensure assigned or attached forces are properly organized, equipped, and trained to support the operational mission.

Air Operations Center

The Air Operations Center (AOC) is the COMAFFOR's Command and Control (C²) center. This center is responsible for planning and executing air power missions in support of JFC objectives. In the military: The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission. ...

Air Expeditionary Wings/Groups/Squadrons

The AETF generates air power to support COCOM objectives from Air Expeditionary Wings (AEW) or Air Expeditionary Groups (AEG). These units are responsible for receiving combat forces from Air Force MAJCOMs, preparing these forces for operational missions, launching and recovering these forces, and eventually returning forces to the MAJCOMs. Theater Air Control Systems control employment of forces during these missions.

Core values

In 1995, the Secretary of the Air Force Sheila E. Widnall and the Air Force Chief of Staff General Ronald R. Fogleman approved the following core values for the United States Air Force:^[13]

The Air Education and Training Command along with the USAF Academy are responsible for teaching these principles throughout the Air Force.

Vocations

The vast majority of Air Force members remain on the ground. There are hundreds of support positions which are necessary to the success of a mission.

The classification of an Air Force job is the Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). They range from flight combat operations such as a gunner, to working in a dining facility to ensure that members are properly fed. There are many different mechanic type jobs. There are members in computer specialties, medical specialties, public relations, hospitality, law, drug counseling, mail operations, security forces, and search and rescue specialties. The Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) is an alphanumeric code used by the United States Air Force to identify an Air Force Specialty (AFS), or a group of jobs that require common qualifications. ... Security Forces members survey the installation perimeter at Manas Air Base. ...

Perhaps the most dangerous Air Force jobs are pararescue, combat control, combat weather, and tactical air control party, who deploy with special forces units to call in air strikes and set up landing zones in forward locations. Most of these are enlisted positions.

Nearly all enlisted jobs are "entry level," meaning that the Air Force provides all training. Some enlistees are able to choose a particular job, or at least a field before actually joining, while others are assigned an AFSC at Basic Training. After Basic Military Training, new Air Force members attend a technical training school where they learn their particular AFSC. Second Air Force, a part of Air Education and Training Command is responsible for nearly all technical training.

Training programs vary in length; for example, 3M0X1 (Services) has 31 days of tech school training, while 1C2X1 (Combat Control) is 35 weeks long with 10 separate courses. Some AFSCs have even longer training.

Aircraft

The United States Air Force has over 7,500 aircraft commissioned as of 2004. Until 1962, the Army and Air Force maintained one system of aircraft naming, while the U.S. Navy maintained a separate system. In 1962, these were unified into a single system heavily reflecting the Army/Air Force method. For more complete information on the workings of this system, refer to United States Department of Defense Aerospace Vehicle Designations. This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production and operational types. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2428x1736, 357 KB) Boeing B52H (code 0052) taking off from the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2428x1736, 357 KB) Boeing B52H (code 0052) taking off from the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, England. ... The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range jet strategic bomber flown by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1954. ... United States Department of Defense Aerospace Vehicle Designations are determined by a detailed protocol to identify all aircraft, helicopters, rockets, missiles, spacecraft, and other aerial vehicles in military use by the United States Armed Forces. ...

Primary user United States Air Force Number built 715 Unit cost US$9. ... The AC-130 Gunship is an armed variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. ... Antonov An-32P Â© ANTONOV ASTC The Antonov An-32 (NATO reporting name: Cline) is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft. ... The Boeing (formerly Rockwell International) B-1B Lancer is a long-range strategic bomber in service with the United States Air Force (USAF). ... The B-2 Spirit, made by Northrop Grumman, is an multi-role stealth aircraft able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. ... The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range jet strategic bomber flown by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1954. ... The C-5 Galaxy is a jet-powered military transport aircraft designed to provide strategic heavy airlift over intercontinental distances. ... A C-9 Skytrain II offloading on the ramp at Naval Air Station Brunswick. ... The C-12F Huron provides logistics support between Navy air stations. ... The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) C-17 Globemaster III is a strategic airlifter manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and operated by the United States Air Force, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. ... The C-20 Gulfstream is the military designation of the commercial Gulfstream bizjets used by the US military forces. ... The Boeing C-22B, a 727-100, is the primary medium-range aircraft used by the Air National Guard and National Guard Bureau to airlift personnel. ... Fairchild C-26 Metroliner is the designation for the Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner series twin turboprop airplane built by Fairchild in the service of the United States military. ... BAe 125-1000 The twin-engined BAe 125 is the worlds best selling mid-size corporate jet, now marketed as the Raytheon Hawker 800. ... The Boeing C-32 is the designation of a USAF passenger transportation aircraft, a version of the Boeing 757. ... The C-37 is a twin jet-engined aircraft of USAF and a variant of the Gulfstream V. // Mission The C-37A is a twin-engine, turbofan aircraft acquired to fill the worldwide special air missions for high-ranking government and Defense Department officials. ... The C-38 Courier is the US military designation for the Gulfstream Aerospace/Galaxy Aerospace Corp Gulfstream G100 Series twin engine business jet, which is the American version of the Astra SPX built by Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI). ... A C-40B VIP transport taking off. ... CASA C-212 of the Swedish Coast Guard. ... C-47A USAAF Serial #43-48052 The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota was a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for military forces worldwide. ... The C-135 Stratolifter is a transport aircraft derived from Boeing’s prototype 707 jet airliner in the early 1950s. ... Cessna 150s produced before 1964, such as this 1962 Cessna 150B, had square fins and no rear window A 1965 Cessna 150E. The 1964 model 150D and the 150E had an Omni-Vision rear window, but retained the square fin of the earlier 150 1965 Cessna 150E 1967 Cessna F150G... The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multi-mission military aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. ... The E-3 Sentry is a military airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, to the United States, NATO and other air defense forces. ... The E-4B Nightwatch, formerly known as NEACP (Kneecap) and sometimes called NAOC (National Airborne Operations Center), is a Boeing 747-200 aircraft specially built to serve as a survivable mobile command post for the President during a nuclear war. ... United States Air Force E-8C Joint STARS The E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) is a United States Air Force airborne battle management and command and control (C2) platform that conducts ground surveillance to develop an understanding of the enemy situation and to support attack... The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) F-15 Eagle is an American-built all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. ... For the game, see F-15 Strike Eagle (computer game) The F-15E Strike Eagle is a modern United States all-weather strike fighter, designed for long-range interdiction of enemy ground targets deep behind enemy lines. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multi-role jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics in the United States. ... The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a stealth fighter aircraft. ... The F-35 Lightning IIâ€”descended from the X-35 of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programâ€”is a single-seat, single-engined military strike fighter, a multi-role aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air-to-air combat. ... The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, nicknamed â€œThe Black Jetâ€[2], is the worlds first operational aircraft completely designed around stealth technology. ... The primary mission of the Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is to conduct day or night operations into hostile environments to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel during war. ... The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft, first manufactured in 1956 and expected to remain in service into the 2040s. ... The KC-10 Extender is an air-to-air tanker aircraft in service with the United States Air Force derived from the civilian DC-10-30 airliner. ... The MC-130E/H Combat Talon I/II is a special operations variant of the C-130 aircraft operated by the United States Air Force. ... The Sikorsky S-65 is a heavy transport helicopter originally developed for use by the United States Marine Corps, who designated it the CH-53 Sea Stallion. ... The Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) is a Russian fighter aircraft used in the air superiority role. ... Primary user United States Air Force Number built 715 Unit cost US$9. ... Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle flies on a simulated Navy aerial reconnaissance flight off southern California in December 1995. ... The Northrop Grumman (formerly Ryan Aeronautical) RQ-4 Global Hawk (known as Tier II+ during development) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used by the US Air Force as a surveillance aircraft. ... It has been suggested that Rivet Amber be merged into this article or section. ... Su-27 Flanker is a realistic flight simulator released for the PC in 1996 on CD. Developed in Russia by Eagle Dynamics and published by SSI, Su-27 Flanker contained a realistic and detailed flight model in a less competitive graphics shell, allowing the simulation to run on relatively minimal... The T-1A Jayhawk is a twin-engined jet aircraft used by the United States Air Force for advanced pilot training. ... A T-6 Texan II For the similarly-named World War II aircraft, see T-6 Texan. ... One of the most prominent of the trainer-attack type aircraft is the Cessna T-37/A-37, known in various forms as the Tweety Bird, Tweet, Dragonfly, or Super Tweet. ... The Northrop T-38 Talon is a US-built supersonic jet trainer for military pilots and NASA astronauts. ... This article, image, template or category should belong in one or more categories. ... The Lockheed U-2R/TR-1 in flight The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed Dragon Lady, is a single-seat, single-engine, high-altitude surveillance aircraft flown by the United States Air Force. ... The Bell Helicopter UH-1 Iroquois, commonly (or officially in the United States Marine Corps) known as the Huey, is a multipurpose military helicopter, famous for its use in the Vietnam War. ...

Gallery of images

Uniform

Mess Dress

The Mess Dress Uniform is used for formal or semi-formal occasions such as Dining ins, the annual Air Force Ball, graduations, award cermonies and weddings. The uniform consists of dark blue waist-length tuxedo coat and matching trousers with silver buttons, miniature medals, blue bow-tie and cummerbund, and shoulder boards and silver wrist braids for officers. No cover (hat) or name-tag is worn with the Air Force Mess Dress Uniform. When wearing the blue tie and cummerbund, the uniform is considered equivalent to black-tie formal wear. For white-tie occasions, a white bow-tie and waistcoat are worn. Image File history File links US_Air_Force_Mens_Mess_Dress. ... Image File history File links US_Air_Force_Mens_Mess_Dress. ... Three Canadian officers in shawl or rolled collar jacket and waistcoat style mess dress or mess kit. ... Mess Night at Camp Lejeune Dining in is a formal military function for members of a company or other unit. ...

Service Dress

Prior to 1993, all Air Force personnel wore Air Force Blue uniforms very similar in appearance to that of the U.S. Army. Image File history File links US_Air_Force_Mens_Service_Dress. ... Image File history File links US_Air_Force_Mens_Service_Dress. ...

The current U.S. Air Force Service Dress Uniform, which was adopted in 1993 and standardized in 1995, consists of a three-button, pocketless coat, similar to that of a men's "sport jacket" (with silver "U.S." pins on the lapels), matching trousers, and either a service cap or flight cap, all in Shade 1620, "Air Force Blue." This is worn with a light blue shirt (Shade 1550) and Shade 1620 herringbone patterned necktie. Enlisted members wear sleeve insignia on both the jacket and shirt, while officers wear metal rank insignia pinned onto the coat, and Air Force Blue slide-on epaulet loops on the shirt. Air Force personnel assigned to honor guard duties wear, for dress occasions, a modified version of the standard service dress uniform, but with silver or white trim on the sleeves and trousers, with the addition of medals, sword belt, wheel cap with silver trim and AF Symbol, and a silver shoulder cord.^[14] Gen. ... Gen. ... When laying bricks, the manner in which the bricks overlap is called the bond. ... January 1, 2000: The Department of Defense began the implementation plan for providing military funeral honors for eligible veterans as enacted in Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000 on. ...

The service dress uniform pictured is a modification of the original version envisioned by Merrill McPeak, which featured no epaulets for any rank, and silver braid loops on the lower sleeves denoting officer rank. This style of rank insignia for officers, while used by British Royal Air Force officers and air force officers of other commonwealth nations, is the style of the U.S. Navy service dress uniform. For this reason and others, the insignia was immensely unpopular and many senior Air Force Generals commented that the uniforms of the Air Force now looked identical to those of airline pilots. The McPeak uniform was abolished in 1999 and remains the shortest issued military insignia series in the history of the United States armed forces. Epaulets were put back on the coat for metal rank insignia but the compromise uniform continued to be unpopular, primarily from its civilian-style cut. Several additional changes were made to make the jacket seem more military in appearance. General Merrill Anthony Tony McPeak (born January 9, 1936) is a former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force of the United Kingdom. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... A Boeing 747-400 of Virgin Atlantic Airways An airline provides air transport services for passengers or freight. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ...

On May 18, 2006, the Department of the Air Force unveiled two prototypes of new service dress uniforms, one resembling the stand-collar uniform worn by U.S. Army Air Corps officers prior to 1935, called the "Billy Mitchell heritage coat," and another, resembling the Army Air Force's Uniform of World War II and named the "Hap Arnold heritage coat". If the stand-collar coat is selected, it will be the first stand-collar "everyday" uniform to be issued since the 1930's (the Navy's male dress white and the U.S. Marine Corps' dress blue uniform stand-collar coats are worn for formal occasions only). ^[15] May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (139th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, United States Army Air Service William L. (Billy) Mitchell (December 28, 1879 â€“ February 19, 1936) was an American general who is regarded as the father of the U.S. Air Force. ... Henry Harley Arnold (June 25, 1886 - January 15, 1950), often referred to by the nickname Hap, was an American pilot, commander of the US Army Air Corps from 1938, commander of the US Army Air Forces from 1941 until 1945 and the first General of the Air Force in 1949. ...

Utility Uniform

For combat and work duty, ground crews wear the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), which will be phased out in favor of the Airman Battle Uniform.^[16] The Airman Battle Uniform will be issued to Airmen deploying as part of AEFs 7/8 in Spring 2007. In October 2007, they will be issued to Basic Trainees, and will be available for purchase at AAFES outlets by the rest of the Air Force in June 2008.^[17] Image File history File links Battle_Dress. ... Image File history File links Battle_Dress. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1500x2100, 836 KB) USAFs Airman Battle Uniform. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1500x2100, 836 KB) USAFs Airman Battle Uniform. ... It has been suggested that Desert Camouflage Uniform be merged into this article or section. ... The Airman Battle Uniform. ... The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) mission is to provide quality merchandise and services of necessity and convenience to authorized customers at uniformly low prices; and generate reasonable earnings to supplement appropriated funds for the support of US Army and US Air Force Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Programs. ...

The expected mandatory wear date for the Airman Battle Uniform is October 2011.^[18]

Pilots, air crews and missile crews, wear olive green or desert tan one-piece flight suits made of Nomex for fire protection. A woman in a flight suit A flight suit is a full body garment worn while flying an aircraft, such as, commercial airliners, military aircraft and gliders. ... NOMEXÂ® is the brand name of a flame retardant meta-aramid material marketed and first discovered by DuPont in the 1970s. ...

Women's Uniforms

Women's service dress uniforms are similar in color and style to the men's service dress uniforms, but can also include additional articles including a skirt, stockings, and women's style garrison cap.

Currently, women wear the same utility uniforms as men; either the BDU or the flight suit, both of which come in unisex sizes. Gender-blind (or unisex) is a term describing activities undertaken and services provided without regard to the sex of those who participate. ...

Desert Uniforms

When serving in a desert climate (such as the Persian Gulf region), Air Force personnel wear tan colored uniforms rather than the customary green. These uniforms consist of the Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU), and the tan nomex flight suit for aircrew members. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x1024, 702 KB) Summary Taken by Patrick Mason in Shannon Ireland. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x1024, 702 KB) Summary Taken by Patrick Mason in Shannon Ireland. ... The Desert Camoflage Uniform (DCU) is essentially the same as the US Armys Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) uniform, only featuring the three-color desert camoflage pattern of light tan, pale green, and brown as opposed to the dark green, black, brown, and dark tan of the BDUs woodland...

PT Uniform

The Air Force designed a new PT (Physical Training) uniform that became mandatory for wear in October 2006. The uniform consists of shorts, t-shirt, jacket and pants. The shorts are AF blue with silver reflective stripes on the leg, a key pocket attached to the inner liner and an ID pocket on the outside of the lower right leg. The t-shirt is a moisture wicking fabric with reflective Air Force logos on the upper left portion of the chest and across the back. The jacket is blue with silver reflective piping and a reflective chevron on the back. The pants are blue with silver piping and reflective stripes. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2100x1800, 1020 KB) Summary http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2100x1800, 1020 KB) Summary http://www. ...

Awards and badges

Military badges of the United States are devices of personal recognition that are granted to service members of the United States armed forces to denote personal accomplishment, qualifications, and participation in designated military campaigns or other activities. ... Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force are military decorations which are issued by the Department of the Air Force to Air Force service members and members of other military branches serving under Air Force commands. ... Badges of the United States Air Force are military awards which are issued by the United States Air Force for personal qualification in several career fields and also as identification badges while serving in certain assignments. ... An Astronaut Badge is a military badge of the United States, awarded to military aviation pilots who have completed Astronaut training with NASA and performed a successful space flight. ... First World War Aviator Badge WWI Senior Aviator Badge Enlisted Aviator Badge A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States military, those being for Army, Air Force, and Naval aviation. ... Second World War Navigator Badge Master Navigator Badge The Navigator Badge is a military decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created during the Second World War. ... The Aircrew Badge is a decoration of the United States military that is awarded by all five branches of military service. ... The Flight Surgeon Badge is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces which has existed since the Second World War. ... An Air Force Occupational Badge is a military badge of the United States Air Force which is awarded to those members of the line Air Force community who are engaged in duties “other than flying”. The purpose of the Air Force Occupational Badge is to denote and recognize... An Air Force Medical Badge is a decoration of the United States Air Force which is presented to those Air Force personnel who are members of the staff medical community. ... The Air Force Religious Pin is a decoration which is presented to military chaplains of the United States Air Force upon completion of basic religious service training and commissioning as a chaplain staff officer in the Air Force. ... The Air Force Fire Protection Badge is a military badge of the United States Air Force that is issued to those service member who have been trained in safety and fire prevention, have qualified as military firefighters, and have been assigned to an Air Force fire department. ... The Air Force Security Police Badge is a military badge of the Air Force Security Forces of the United States Air Force. ... Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous devices are rendered safe. ... Obsolete badges of the United States military are a number of U.S. military decorations which were issued in the early 20th century leading up to and including badges issued during the Second World War. ...

Grade Structure

For cadet rank at the U.S. Air Force Academy, see United States Air Force Academy Cadet Insignia. Download high resolution version (1499x952, 10 KB)Image obtained from [1] and licensed under public domain. ... Download high resolution version (1498x826, 8 KB)Image obtained from [1] and licensed under public domain. ... Download high resolution version (1495x636, 6 KB)Image obtained from [1] and licensed under public domain. ... Below are the insignia used by cadets at the United States Air Force Academy. ...

Trivia

Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Year 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Project Blue Book was one of a series of systematic studies of Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) conducted by the United States Air Force. ... UFO can mean: Unidentified flying object United Future Organization, a Japanese-Brazilian electronic jazz band UFO, the rock band that previously featured Michael Schenker UFO, the Gerry Anderson TV series United Farmers of Ontario, a political party that formed the government in Ontario from 1919 to 1923 U.F.O...

Notes and References

^ 80 P.L. 235, 61 Stat. 495 (1947); Air Force Link, (2006)Factsheets: The U.S. Air Force. Retrieved April 7, 2006.
^ ^a ^b 2006 USAF Almanac: USAF Personnel Strength. AIR FORCE Magazine. Retrieved on 20 Jan 2007.
^ Air Force Print News, (2006). Force shaping necessary for AF budgetary management. Retrieved June 8, 2006.
^ 2006 USAF Almanac: USAF Personnel Strength. AIR FORCE Magazine. Retrieved on 20 Jan 2007. 1991 510,000; 2006 352,000
^ Air Force Link, (2005). Air Force releases new mission statement. Retrieved December 8, 2005.
^ The primary source for the history of the USAF prior to 1947 is Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force Vol. I (1997) ISBN 0-16-049009-X , an Air University publication
^ U.S. Intelligence Community (October 2004). National Security Act of 1947. Retrieved April 14, 2006.
^ U.S. Department of State(2006). National Security Act of 1947. Retrieved April 14, 2006.
^ AAFHA (2002). Was It the Air Corps or Army Air Forces in WW II?. Retrieved December 18, 2006.
^ DoD release January 1968, cited in CIA estimate of damage to North Vietnam infrastructure
^ Air Force Public News, (2006). [1]. Retrieved November 24, 2006.
^ Eighth Air Force Public Affairs, (2006). Air Force officials consolidate network ops. Retrieved July 10, 2006.
^ USAF Academy, (2006). United States Air Force Core Values. Retrieved September 5, 2006.
^ Department of the Air Force (2002). DRESS AND APPEARANCE OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL. Retrieved April 14, 2006.
^ Air Force News. New service dress prototypes pique interest. Retrieved May 18, 2006.
^ Air Force Link, (2006). Airman Battle Uniform finalized, ready for production. Retrieved March 17, 2006.
^ Air Force Link, (2006).Battle Uniform available to deploying Airmen this spring. Retrieved December 10, 2006.
^ Air Force Link, (2006).Battle Uniform available to deploying Airmen this spring. Retrieved December 10, 2006.
^ Department of the Air Force (1977). UFO Fact Sheet. Retrieved April 25, 2006.
^ Department of the Air Force (June 1995). Unidentified Flying Objects and Air Force Project Blue Book. Retrieved April 25, 2006.
^ Military-quotes.com (2006). US Air Force Mottos. Retrieved 4 June 2006.

References to U.S. Army predecessors of today's U.S. Air Force are cited under their respective articles. January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Contents

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