Guide Note

The U.S. Air Force is the primary air power division of the United States armed forces. It is the largest and one of the most technologically advanced in the world. The U.S. Air Force has three main divisions, the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve, in total operating roughly 6000 aircraft.

Fast Facts

1. Branch of the U.S. Military dedicated to aerial combat
2. Active personnel: 334,200 (2006)
3. Reserves: 120,369 (2006)
4. Air National Guard: 107,000 (2006)
5. Secretary of Air Force: Michael Wynne
6. Headquarters: The Pentagon
7. Motto: "Above All"
8. Song: "Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder"
9. Colors: Blue and Gold

It was formerly called the Army Air Corps and became a separate branch on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947 with first secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington. Under the act the Department of Defense was also created to work in conjunction with the Air Force, Navy, and Army.

In 1948, the Air Force, along with the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, airlifted food to West Berlin, which had been blockaded by Russian troops. The airlift lasted from June 27, 1948 to May 12, 1949. Over two million tons of supplies were flown in over the course of those 11 months, and American soldiers won hearts with "Operation Little Vittles", an initiative in which they brought candy to the children of Berlin. Seeing they could not starve out the residents of West Berlin, the Russians ended the blockade. The Air Force has since operated in many other humanitarian causes, most recently Operation Unified Assistance to help the tsunami victims of Asia in December 2004 through April 2005.

"To provide sovereign options for the defense of the United States and its global interests. To fly and fight in air, space, and cyberspace".

"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." This is in accordance to the National Security Act of 1947.