Cold War Veterans Blog

Happy 60th Birthday U.S. Air Force













Air, Space & Cyberspace
Originally part of the U.S. Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on Sept. 18, 1947 as a result of the Security Act of 1947.

After many years of planning, an independent air arm was formed, an equal to the Army and Navy. Based on achievements in air superiority, the Air Force became the "first line of defense" in a post-war world. W. Stuart Symington was sworn in as the first secretary of the Air Force, this day 1947.

Since that time, many of our Veteran brothers and sisters have proudly worn the USAF uniform, fighting to protect the many freedoms that our great nation guarantees, carrying out the -USAF Mission:

"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"

Global Vigilance, Reach and Power

Today, the USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced modern air force in the world, with roughly 6,013 manned aircraft in service and over 350,000 active duty men and women.



Throughout history, some of you and millions of other heroic U.S. Armed Forces personnel have fought in many wars, from WWI-II through to the Korean War & Vietnam, to the Gulf War and the current War on Terrorism, proudly serving our nation.

VetFriends.com salutes and supports all of you, our Veterans, active & reserve military, of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force,Marines & Coast Guard - All heroes of our nation.


USAF Key Historical Dates:

-Aug. 1, 1907 - U.S. Army Signal Corps established a small Aeronautical Division to take charge of all matters pertaining to military ballooning & air machines.

-May 20, 1918 - WWI, President Woodrow Wilson issued an executive order transferring aviation from the Signal Corps to two agencies under the Secretary of War: the Bureau of Aircraft Production, headed by Mr. John D. Ryan, and the Division of Military Aeronautics, directed by Maj. Gen. William L. Kenly.


-1926 - Air Corps Act of 1926 changed the name of the Air Service to the Army Air Corps. During WWII, the U.S. Army Air Forces was then established in 1941.

-1964 - USAF was heavily deployed during the Vietnam War following the Gulf of Tonkin incident.


-1991 - The USAF provided the bulk of the Allied air power during the first Gulf War. The F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter was utilized.


-2003 - In the invasion of Iraq, following the defeat of Saddam Hussein's regime, the USAF took over Baghdad International Airport as a base.

Happy Birthday USAF! And thank you to all of our USAF, Army, Navy, Marines & Coast Guard Veterans, active and reserve military.


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Best Regards,
The Veterans at VetFriends.com
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard
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