The United States Air Force was established as an independent military service on September 18, 1947, under the National Security Act, separating from the Army Air Forces that had carried out American strategic and tactical airpower operations throughout World War II, including the strategic bombing campaigns over Germany and Japan and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Built around the doctrine that airpower, including strategic bombing, air superiority and, from the Cold War onward, nuclear deterrence via long-range bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles, constituted an independent and decisive dimension of modern warfare, the new service organized itself around Strategic Air Command, Tactical Air Command and later a wide array of specialized commands. The Air Force played central roles in Cold War nuclear deterrence, the Korean and Vietnam Wars' air campaigns, the 1991 Gulf War's demonstration of precision-guided airpower, and subsequent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, continually advancing jet fighter, bomber, airlift, and, later, stealth and unmanned aircraft technology. The Air Force ceded its space and cyber operational responsibilities in part to the newly created United States Space Force in 2019, while remaining the primary American service for air superiority, strategic airlift and long-range strike.
Facts
Force TypeAir service branch of the United States Armed Forces 1 Founded YearTraces origins to 1907 within the Army Signal Corps; established as an independent branch in 1947, per the same source. Force Type
Force Type (category) United States Air Force
Filter Results3 entries
Connections
Associated With
The F-22 Raptor has served as the United States Air Force's premier air superiority fighter since 2005
The F-35 Lightning II entered United States Air Force service as its newest stealth multirole fighter
The Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile has been operated by the United States Air Force since 1970
Source Wikipedia: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
Fought In
Operation Babylift was flown by United States Air Force transport aircraft
Source Wikipedia: Operation Babylift
Operation Eagle Claw used United States Air Force helicopters and crews staged at Desert One
Source Wikipedia: Operation Eagle Claw
Operation El Dorado Canyon, the 1986 airstrikes on Libya, was flown in part by United States Air Force F-111s from bases in England
Source Wikipedia: Operation El Dorado Canyon
Operation Nickel Grass, the 1973 airlift of arms to Israel during the Yom Kippur War, was flown by United States Air Force cargo aircraft
Source Wikipedia: Operation Nickel Grass
Operation Provide Comfort enforced its no-fly zone with United States Air Force aircraft
Source Wikipedia: Operation Provide Comfort
Operates
Source Wikipedia: AGM-158 JASSM
Source Wikipedia: AGM-158C LRASM
Source Wikipedia: AGM-176 Griffin
Source Wikipedia: AGM-183 ARRW
Source Wikipedia: AGM-65 Maverick
Source Wikipedia: AGM-86 ALCM
Source AGM-88 HARM (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: AGM-88J SiAW
Source Wikipedia: AIM-120 AMRAAM
Source Wikipedia: AIM-4 Falcon
Source Wikipedia: AIM-47 Falcon
Source Wikipedia: AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile
Source Wikipedia: B-2 Spirit
Source Wikipedia: B-29 Superfortress
Source Wikipedia: B-52 Stratofortress
Source Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: Cadillac Gage Ranger
Source Wikipedia: Dragon Cart
Source Wikipedia: F-15 Eagle
Source Wikipedia: F-4 Phantom II
Source GBU-43/B MOAB (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: GBU-53/B StormBreaker
Source Wikipedia: Gyrojet
Source Wikipedia: HGM-25A Titan I
Source LGM-118 Peacekeeper, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: LGM-30 Minuteman
Source Wikipedia: M134 Minigun
Source Wikipedia: M2 Browning
Source Wikipedia: MGM-13 Mace
Source Wikipedia: LGM-30 Minuteman
Source Wikipedia: MQ-1 Predator
Source Wikipedia: P-51 Mustang
Source Wikipedia: PGM-19 Jupiter
Source Wikipedia: Republic-Ford JB-2
Source Wikipedia: Douglas SBD Dauntless
Source Wikipedia: Smith & Wesson Model 15
Source Wikipedia: SR-71 Blackbird
Source Wikipedia: UH-1 Iroquois
Source Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia: United States Air Force
WikipediaLead paragraph 1
the Air Force was established by transfer of personnel from the Army Air Forces with the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947.
- Per the entity's own name and sourced description.
View the Source Wikidata: United States Air Force
Wikidata Q11223, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
Wikipedia: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
WikipediaAssociated With: MQ-9 Reaper, lead sentenceQuote, Associated With: MQ-9 Reaper, lead sentence
The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (sometimes called Predator B) is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, one component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS)) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF).
View the Source Wikipedia: LGM-30 Minuteman
- Operates: Minuteman III, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'
- Operates: LGM-30 Minuteman, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'
View the SourceGBU-43/B MOAB (Wikipedia)
Operates: GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source LGM-118 Peacekeeper, Wikipedia
Operates: LGM-118 Peacekeeper, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source Wikipedia: PGM-19 Jupiter
Operates: PGM-19 Jupiter, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source Wikipedia: AGM-158C LRASM
Operates: AGM-158C LRASM, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source Wikipedia: AGM-158 JASSM
Operates: AGM-158 JASSM, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source Wikipedia: AGM-86 ALCM
Operates: AGM-86 ALCM, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source Wikipedia: MGM-13 Mace
Operates: MGM-13 Mace, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source Wikipedia: ASALM
Operates: ASALM, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source Wikipedia: Dragon Cart
Operates: Dragon Cart, infobox used_by/operator field: 'United States Air Force'View the Source Wikipedia: AGM-183 ARRW
Operates: AGM-183 ARRW, Infobox, used by and service fieldsQuote, Operates: AGM-183 ARRW, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: United States Air Force
View the Source Wikipedia: GBU-53/B StormBreaker
Operates: GBU-53/B StormBreaker, Infobox, used by and service fieldsQuote, Operates: GBU-53/B StormBreaker, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: United States Air Force
View the Source Wikipedia: Republic-Ford JB-2
Operates: Republic-Ford JB-2, Infobox, used by and service fieldsQuote, Operates: Republic-Ford JB-2, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: United States Air Force
View the Source Wikipedia: AGM-176 Griffin
Operates: AGM-176 Griffin, Infobox, used by and service fieldsQuote, Operates: AGM-176 Griffin, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: United States Air Force
View the Source Wikipedia: AIM-47 Falcon
Operates: AIM-47 Falcon, Infobox, used by and service fieldsQuote, Operates: AIM-47 Falcon, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: United States Air Force
View the Source Wikipedia: AGM-88J SiAW
Operates: AGM-88J SiAW, Infobox, used by and service fieldsQuote, Operates: AGM-88J SiAW, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: United States Air Force
View the Source Wikipedia: P-51 Mustang
WikipediaOperates: P-51 Mustang, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: P-51 Mustang, Wikipedia article text
A "substantial number" of stored or in-service F-51Ds were shipped, via aircraft carriers, to the combat zone, and were used by the USAF, the South African Air Force, and the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).
View the Source Wikipedia: F-4 Phantom II
WikipediaOperates: F-4 Phantom II, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: F-4 Phantom II, Wikipedia article text
It entered service with the Navy in 1961, then was adopted by the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force, and within a few years became a major part of their air arms.
View the Source Wikipedia: B-2 Spirit
WikipediaOperates: B-2 Spirit, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: B-2 Spirit, Wikipedia article text
The Northrop B-2 Spirit is an American nuclear-capable subsonic stealth strategic bomber, often referred to as a "stealth bomber", solely operated by the United States Air Force.
View the Source Wikipedia: MQ-1 Predator
WikipediaOperates: MQ-1 Predator, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: MQ-1 Predator, Wikipedia article text
The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (often referred to as the Predator drone) is an American remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) built by General Atomics that was used primarily by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
View the Source Wikipedia: UH-1 Iroquois
WikipediaOperates: UH-1 Iroquois, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: UH-1 Iroquois, Wikipedia article text
The US also ordered the helicopter with the USAF receiving it in 1970.
View the Source Wikipedia: B-52 Stratofortress
WikipediaOperates: B-52 Stratofortress, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: B-52 Stratofortress, Wikipedia article text
It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1955 and was flown by NASA from 1959 to 2007.
View the Source Wikipedia: AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile
WikipediaOperates: AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile, Wikipedia article text
The AIM-9B is a very limited weapon, but it had no serious competitors and counters when it was introduced, causing it to be adopted by the USAF and NATO as a standard weapon, with around 80,000 units being produced from 1958 to 1962.
View the Source Wikipedia: B-29 Superfortress
WikipediaOperates: B-29 Superfortress, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: B-29 Superfortress, Wikipedia article text
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is a retired American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the USAAF and USAF during World War II and the Korean War.
View the Source Wikipedia: M2 Browning
WikipediaOperates: M2 Browning Machine Gun, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: M2 Browning Machine Gun, Wikipedia article text
The later, faster-firing electrically feed-boosted AN/M3 was used in many Korean War-era USAF fighter aircraft such as the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, Republic F-84 Thunderjet, North American F-86 Sabre, and early versions of the Martin B-57 Canberra bomber.
View the Source Wikipedia: AIM-120 AMRAAM
WikipediaOperates: AIM-120 AMRAAM, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: AIM-120 AMRAAM, Wikipedia article text
Together with the short-range, infrared-guided AIM-9 Sidewinder, they replaced the AIM-4 Falcon IR and radar guided series for use in air combat by the USAF as well.
View the Source Wikipedia: Douglas SBD Dauntless
WikipediaOperates: SBD Dauntless, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: SBD Dauntless, Wikipedia article text
A handful of A-24s survived in the inventory of the USAAF long enough to be taken over by the Air Force (USAF) when that service became independent of the Army in September 1947.
View the Source AGM-88 HARM (Wikipedia)
Operates: AGM-88 HARM, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: AGM-88 HARM, Wikipedia article text
Air Force (USAF) put the HARM onto the F-4G Wild Weasel aircraft, and later on specialized F-16s equipped with the HARM Targeting System (HTS).
View the Source Wikipedia: SR-71 Blackbird
WikipediaOperates: SR-71 Blackbird, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: SR-71 Blackbird, Wikipedia article text
When the A-12's performance potential was clearly found to be much greater, the USAF ordered a variant of the A-12 in December 1962, which was originally named R-12 by Lockheed.
View the Source Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia
Operates: C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia article text
In 2007, the transport became the fifth aircraft to mark 50 years of continuous service with its original primary customer, which for the C-130 is the United States Air Force (USAF).
View the Source Wikipedia: F-15 Eagle
WikipediaOperates: F-15 Eagle, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: F-15 Eagle, Wikipedia article text
; * United States Air Force formerly operated the F-15C, with all active duty units retiring the variant as of April 2025 though up to eight F-15D are in service as of September 2024.
View the Source Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey (Wikipedia)
Operates: V-22 Osprey, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: V-22 Osprey, Wikipedia article text
Air Force (USAF) fielded its version of the tiltrotor, the CV-22B, in 2009.
View the Source Wikipedia: CAR-15
Operates: CAR-15, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: CAR-15, Wikipedia article text
The Model 603 CAR-15 Rifle, adopted initially by the United States Army as the XM16E1 and then later as the M16A1, and the Model 604 CAR-15 Rifle, adopted by the United States Air Force as the M16, formed the core of the CAR-15 family.
View the Source Wikipedia: Gyrojet
Operates: Gyrojet, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Gyrojet, Wikipedia article text
The emergency-survival flare version (A/P25S-5A) was used for many years as a standard USAF issue item in survival kits, vests, and for forward operations signaling, with flares available in white, green, blue, and red.
View the Source Wikipedia: M134 Minigun
Operates: M134 Minigun, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: M134 Minigun, Wikipedia article text
The basic fixed armament version was given the designation M134 by the United States Army, while the same weapon was designated GAU-2/A (on a fixed mount) and GAU-17/A (flexible mount) by the United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Navy (USN).
View the Source Wikipedia: AGM-65 Maverick
Operates: AGM-65 Maverick, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: AGM-65 Maverick, Wikipedia article text
It entered service with the United States Air Force in August 1972.
View the Source Wikipedia: Smith & Wesson Model 15
Operates: Smith & Wesson Model 15, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Smith & Wesson Model 15, Wikipedia article text
The Model 15 was the standard issue sidearm of the United States Air Force Security Forces from 1962 to 1992.
View the Source Wikipedia: AIM-4 Falcon
Operates: AIM-4 Falcon, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: AIM-4 Falcon, Wikipedia article text
The missile entered service with the USAF in 1956.
View the Source Wikipedia: Cadillac Gage Ranger
Operates: Cadillac Gage Ranger, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Cadillac Gage Ranger, Wikipedia article text
In 1981, 560 additional Rangers were ordered by the USAF and the United States Navy.
View the Source Wikipedia: HGM-25A Titan I
Operates: HGM-25A Titan I, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: HGM-25A Titan I, Wikipedia article text
In its brief career, a total of six USAF squadrons were equipped with the Titan I missile.
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