USAAF recruitment poster.

USAAF recruitment poster.

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. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 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. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (over 11 miles) into the air. ... Seal of the Air Force. ...

History

Prior to the start of World War II, the USAAF was known as the U.S. Army Air Corps, or USAAC. The USAAC was a corps-level, subsidiary organization within the U.S. Army, and had little autonomy. Due to the efforts of several key USAAC officers and the changing political times, the Air Corps obtained greater organizational independence in 1941. Renamed the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and considered a separate arm of the Army, the new USAAF had an equal "voice" with the Army and Navy. 1. ... This article is about a military unit. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ...

The sixteen Air Forces

By the end of World War II, the USAAF was divided into sixteen numbered Air Forces (First-Fifteenth and the Twentieth) distributed across all theaters of war, plus the Zone of the Interior general air force stationed in the continental United States. To these were attached an additional eight Air Divisions which were sometimes detached and served as independent units when the need arose. These Air Forces and Divisions grew out of earlier Air Corps commands; for example, the Eigth Air Force was originally called VIII Bomber Command. Several Air Forces were created de novo as the service expanded during the war. The Air Forces and Divisions were divided into a total of 91 Wings, called Bombardment, Tactical Reconnaisance, Training or Composite depending on whether their primary intended role was strategic bombing, pursuit, air support etc.. The Air Forces also had jurisdiction over a number of logistical units like the Air Transport Command, successor to the pre-war Air Corps Ferrying Command Strategic bombing is a military strategem used in a total war style campaign that attempts to destroy the economic ability of a nation-state to wage war. ...

After the war, the Eighth Air Force was merged with several other units to become the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAAFE). In 1947, the USAAFE became a component of the newly-created United States Air Force. From 1948-48, the unit was responsible for the Berlin Airlift. 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Seal of the Air Force. ... The Soviet Union blocked Western rail and road access to West Berlin from June 24, 1948 - May 11, 1949. ...

The official name for the organization was the United States Army Air Forces. In colloquial speech, the old Air Corps name persisted among veteran soldiers; in addition, the singular "Air Force" often crept into popular use, possibly by analogy to the Allied Royal Air Force. This misnomer even crept onto official recruiting posters (see image on right). When spelt with a capital A, Allies usually denotes the countries that fought together against the Central Powers in World War I and against the Axis Powers in World War II. Other uses In general, allies are people or groups that have joined an alliance and are working together to... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the UK Armed Forces. ...

List of air forces

• First Air Force
• Second Air Force
• Third Air Force
• Fourth Air Force
• Fifth Air Force
• Sixth Air Force
• Seventh Air Force
• Eighth Air Force
• Ninth Air Force
• Tenth Air Force
• Eleventh Air Force
• Twelfth Air Force
• Thirteenth Air Force
• Fourteenth Air Force
• Twentieth Air Force

One of the original four numbered air forces formed in the United States in 1940, the First Air Force provided air defense and conducted combat training for personnel of newly formed units. ... The Second Air Force was formed in the United States to provide air defense and train personnel of newly formed units in World War II, the Second was briefly a part of Air Defense Command after the war. ... Third Air Force was established in 1940 as the Southeast Air District to provide air defence for that part of continental United States, it also provided air defense and conducted combat training for personnel of newly formed units in World War II. After the war it served Tactical Air Command... Formed in the United States during World War II to provide air defense and combat training for the personnel of newly formed units, the Fourth Air Force was assigned, in turn, to Continental Air Forces, Air Defense Command, and Continental Air Command before inactivating in 1960. ... One of the few numbered air forces never stationed in the United States, Fifth Air Force is also one of the oldest and continuously active. ... Sixth Air Force was redesignated from the Caribbean Air Force in February 1942. ... Seventh Air Force evolved from the Hawaiian Air Force that was originally established to control a growing number of air units arriving in the Territory of Hawaii in 1940. ... The Eighth Air Force was a World War II, United States Army Air Force unit, which carried out day-time bombing operations in western Europe from airfields in eastern England from 1942. ... After beginning life in the United States as a numbered air support command, this establishment became the major tactical air force in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. Ninth Air Force first entered combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, then moved to R.A.F Burtonwood... The Tenth Air Force was created for air combat operations in India and Burma during World War II. In the years since World War II, the Tenth Air Force has served the air defense and reserve training programs. ... Established in the United States, the Twelfth Air Force moved to England for training, then participated in the invasion of North Africa. ... Like the Fifth Air Force, the Thirteenth Air Force has never been stationed in the United States; it is also one of the oldest, continuously active, numbered air forces. ... The United States Fourteenth Air Force operated primarily in China during World War II and subsequently served Air Defense Command, Continental Air Command, and the Air Force Reserve. ... Twentieth Air Force was formed during World War II, exclusively as a heavy strategic bombardment organization. ...

Air Force independence

Following the immense buildup in aviation infrastructure and personnel during the war, and in recognition of the tremendous new importance and strength of airpower, then-President Harry S. Truman created the United States Department of the Air Force in 1947. This legislation renamed the aviation military group again to the United States Air Force, elevating it to a truly separate branch of the U.S. military. Seal of the President of the United States The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States. ... For the victim of Mt. ... 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. ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Notable people who served in the USAAF

• Carl Albert, U.S. representative from Oklahoma and Speaker of the House from 1971 to 1977
• Henry H. Arnold, commanding general of the USAAF
• Clyde Cowan, discovered existence of the neutrino
• Nathan Bedford Forrest III, brigadier general in the USAAF and great-grandson of Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest.
• Clark Gable, film actor
• William Wister Haines, author, screenwriter, and playwright
• Charlton Heston, film actor and President of the National Rifle Association.
• John Hope, television meteorologist and hurricane forecaster
• George McGovern, U.S. Senator and 1972 Democratic Presidential candidate
• Walter Miller, science fiction author
• William Rehnquist, jurist and Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
• Carl Spaatz, commanding general of the USAAF and later first Chief of Staff of the Air Force
• Aaron Spelling, film and television producer
• Jimmy Stewart, film actor - Officer in 8th Air Force.
• Joseph A. Walker, military test pilot
• Harris Wofford, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
• Kenneth N. Walker Brig. Gen., Medal of Honor recipient, airpower visionary, co-author of the Air War Plan (AWPD-I)

Carl Bert Albert (May 10, 1908 - February 4, 2000) was a lawyer and American politician from Oklahoma. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ... Oklahoma is a southwestern state of the United States and its U.S. postal abbreviation is OK; others abbreviate the states name Okla. ... The term Speaker is usually the title given to the presiding officer of a countrys lower house of parliament or congress (ie: the House of Commons or House of Representatives). ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... Henry Hap Arnold 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... Clyde Lorrain Cowan Jr (1919–1974) was a captain in the United States Army Air Force. ... The neutrino is an elementary particle. ... Nathan Bedford Forrest III (April 7, 1905 - June 13, 1943) was a Brigadier General of the United States Army Air Force, and a great-grandson of Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest. ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... National Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God our Vindicator) Official language English de facto nationwide Various European and Native American languages regionally Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3–April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans... Nathan Bedford Forrest Nathan Bedford Forrest (July 13, 1821 – October 29, 1877), was a Confederate general and perhaps the American Civil Wars most highly regarded cavalry and guerrilla leader. ... William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901 – November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, and the biggest box-office star of the early sound film era. ... This is an alphabetical list of notable male movie actors. ... This article is about the American author. ... Charlton Heston (born October 4, 1924), born John Charles Carter, is an American film actor noted for heroic roles. ... The National Rifle Association, or NRA, is a highly organized group for gun promotion in the United States. ... John Raymond Hope (May 4, 1919-June 13, 2002) was an American meteorologist who specialized in hurricane forecasting and was an on-air personality on The Weather Channel. ... Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... Dr. George Stanley McGovern (born July 19, 1922 in Avon, South Dakota) was a United States Congressman, Senator, and Democratic presidential candidate, losing the 1972 presidential election to incumbent Richard Nixon. ... Seal of the Senate The Senate is one of the two houses of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... Democratic nomination Democratic Candidates Shirley Chisholm, U.S. representative from New York Fred Harris, U.S. senator from Oklahoma Hubert Humphrey, U.S. senator from Minnesota, former vice president, and 1968 presidential nominee Henry Scoop Jackson, U.S. senator from Washington John Lindsay, mayor of New York City Eugene McCarthy... Walter Michael Miller, Jr. ... Note that this partial list contains some authors whose works of fantastic fiction would today be called science fiction, even if they predate, or did not work in that genre. ... William H. Rehnquist has served as the Chief Justice of the United States since 1986. ... A Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is the head judge in a supreme court. ... The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C., (large image) The Supreme Court of the United States, located in Washington, D.C., is the highest court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States... 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. ... Aaron Spelling (born April 22, 1923 in Dallas, Texas) is an American film and television producer. ... A Television producer oversees the making of television programmes. ... Jimmy Stewart, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1934 James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American film actor beloved for his persona as an average guy who faces adversity and tries to do the right thing, an image which was largely reflected in his own personality. ... Joseph A. Walker - X-15 astronaut (NASA) Joseph Albert Walker (20 February 1921 - 8 June 1966) was an American military test pilot; in 1963, he made two X-15 flights past the 100 kilometer edge of space, the only spaceplane flights past that threshold made until SpaceShipOne in 2004. ... Test Pilots work on developing, evaluating and proving experimental aircraft. ... Harris Llewellyn Wofford (born April 9, 1926) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1995. ... State nickname: The Keystone State Other U.S. States Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Governor Ed Rendell Official languages None Area 119,283 km² (33rd)  - Land 116,074 km²  - Water 3,208 km² (2. ... This article is about the military award; for the computer game, see Medal of Honor (computer game). ...

Badges of the Army Air Forces

To denote the special training and qualifications required for membership in USAAF, the following military badges were authorized for wear by members of the Army Air Forces: In the United States military, personal recognition is granted to service members by a number of awards and decorations. ...

• Aviator Badge
• Navigator Badge
• Bombardier Badge
• Gunner Badge
• Balloon Pilot Badge
• Auxiliary Pilot Badge
• Flight Surgeon Badge
• Flight Nurse Badge
• Flight Instructor Badge
• Flight Engineer Badge
• Observer Badge
• Technician Badge

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. ... Bombing Aviator Badge Bombardier Badge The Bombardier Badge was a military badge of the United States military which was issued between the years of 1918 and 1947. ... The Gunner Badge was a military decoration of the United States Army Air Force and was issued during the years of the Second World War. ... First World War Aeronaut Badges The Balloon Pilot Badge is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces which was issued during the First and Second World Wars. ... The Auxiliary Pilot Badge was a decoration of the United States military which was issued during the years of the Second World War. ... The Flight Surgeon Badge is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces which has existed since the Second World War. ... Air Force Master Flight Nurse Badge Navy Flight Nurse Badge Army Air Force Flight Nurse Badge The Flight Nurse Badge is a military badge of the United States armed forces which is issued by the U.S. Air Force and United States Navy. ... The Flight Instructor Badge was a decoration of the United States Army during the years of the Second World War. ... The Flight Engineer Badge was a decoration of the United States military which was first created in the 1930s and was awarded to those military officers who had qualified as flight engineer onboard a military aircraft. ... The Observer Badge is a military badge of the United States military which dates to the First World War. ...

Sources

• ArmyAirForces.com (http://www.armyairforces.com) — comprehensive look at the USAAF. Includes searchable databases, histories, dictionary, and forum.
  • USAAF air force/division/wing histories (http://www.armyairforces.com/dborganization.asp) History of all USAAF subdivisions.
  • USAAF jargon dictionary (http://www.armyairforces.com/dbterminology.asp) — contains 526 words and abbreviations.
  • USAAF unit search (http://www.armyairforces.com/dbunitsearch.asp) — searchable database of groups, squadrons, squadron codes, stations, and commanders.
  • USAAF missing air crew report search (http://www.armyairforces.com/dbmacr.asp) — searchable database of missing air crew reports (MACRs) by MACR number, date, serial number, and group.
• United States Army Center of Military History "Green Book" Chief of Staff: Prewar Plans and Preparations. Chap. IX: The Movement Toward Air Autonomy (http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/csppp/ch09.htm)
• USSAAF.net (http://www.usaaf.net) — "Published accounts of the Army Air Forces in World War II available in the public domain."
• USSAF in WWII (http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/wwii/usaf/html/) — Combat chronology. Available for ZIP download.
• Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (http://libraryautomation.com/nymas/usaaf1.html). 1986.

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