After World War II, the Cold War highlighted the need for a capable air service to counter the Soviet threat—resulting in the Air Force’s creation on September 18, 1947.
On Thursday, Gen. Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, wrote in an official statement, “On behalf of the United States Marine Corps, I salute the United States Air Force on the occasion of its 78th anniversary.
“Since its founding on 18 September 1947, the Air Force has been a steadfast partner in the defense of our Nation, delivering decisive power from the skies, dominating across domains, and providing the joint force with the asymmetric edge we rely on,” Smith added. “Our partnership has been forged in combat.”
Although not as significant a milestone as the Air Force’s 75th anniversary three years ago, it is still worth noting the founding of the air service this year as the United States Army, from which the Air Force evolved, celebrated its 250th anniversary.
Tracing the Origins of the US Air Force
As General Smith highlighted, the US Air Force was officially created on September 18, 1947, when the National Security Act of 1947 established it as the fifth branch of the United States Armed Forces. However, its lineage dates back four decades earlier, almost to the first days of flight.
Military aviation dates back even further to the American Civil War, when both sides employed balloons. The Union Army’s Intrepid and Union, as well as the Confederates’ Gazelle, were used for reconnaissance and directing artillery fire on enemy positions. The use of balloons continued throughout the 19th century, with the Signal Corps operating a handful of balloons.
However, on August 1, 1907, the United States Army Signal Corps established its Aeronautical Division—the earliest predecessor unit to the Air Force. It was created to take “charge of all matters pertaining to military ballooning, air machines, and all kindred subjects.” It is noteworthy that balloons were considered a priority over “air machines,” even though the Wright Brothers’ first flight had occurred a mere three years earlier!
Moreover, a year after the creation of the Aeronautical Division, the Signal Corps acquired a small dirigible that was used at Fort Omaha, Nebraska. It wasn’t until May 26, 1909, that Lt. Frank P. Lahm and Lt. Benjamin D. Foulois made their first ascent and qualified as the airship’s first US Army pilots.
The “Aeronautical Division’s” Rocky Early Days
In the meantime, the Signal Corps began to look to those “air machines,” with testing of the first airplane being carried out at Fort Myer, Virginia, in August 1908. Just weeks later, on September 9, tragedy struck, with the US military seeing its first aviation-related casualties. Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge, flying with Orville Wright, was killed in a plane crash. Yet, the Army pressed on and purchased a second, improved Wright Flyer—designated “Airplane No. 1” on August 2, 1909.
By October 1912, the Signal Corps’ fleet of aircraft had grown to nine, after Airplane No. 1 was given to the Smithsonian Institution and is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Meanwhile, another test plane was lost in a crash.
In 1913, the US Army ordered its aviators, who were training at various bases, to participate in the 2nd Division’s maneuvers. The unit was designated the “1st Provisional Aero Squadron,” and in December of that same year, it was redesignated as the 1st Aero Squadron.
“This first military unit of the US Army devoted exclusively to aviation, today designated the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, has remained continuously active since its creation. Assigned a role in the Punitive Expedition of the Mexican border in 1916, this squadron became the first air combat unit of the US Army,” the US Air Force explained.
Today, the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, which trains aircrews for the Lockheed U-2S Dragon Lady and pilots and sensor operators for the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, operates from Beale Air Force Base (AFB), California.
As World War II Approached, the Air Service Grew in Importance
When the United States entered the First World War in the spring of 1917, it had only 35 pilots, all of whom were within the Signal Corps. However, many American aviators had volunteered to serve with the French military. Known unofficially as the Lafayette Flying Corps, which included the famous Lafayette Escadrille squadron—originally the Escadrille Américaine, but renamed due to German protests—this group helped pave the way for America’s first fighter squadrons.
The first US aviation squadron joined the fight in February 1918, made up of pilots who previously served with the French military. That was probably for the best, as the US continued to rely on French planes, since US aircraft production was in its infancy. The experienced pilots from the Flying Corps also helped with training, forming the nucleus of the Army Air Service.
In 1926, the Air Corps Act changed the name of the Army Air Service to the Army Air Corps (AAC). However, as before, it remained part of the US Army due to a lack of support for an independent air force. The act did establish the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Air, with a similar role to an assistant secretary today.
It was also during the Interwar Period that inter-service rivalry began over the role of aviation in warfare, with the Air Corps championing the new technologies, while US Navy officials sought to maintain the sea service’s traditional naval dominance. Much of the rivalry was based on competition for limited military budgets.
With the clouds of World War II on the horizon, the Army Air Forces (AAF) was established in 1941, succeeding the AAC. During the Second World War, the AAF achieved a form of de facto autonomy. Still, the rivalry with the Navy continued, which some historians suggest negatively impacted joint operations during the conflict.
The Creation of the United States Air Force
Following the end of the Second World War, there was a sharp reduction in the size of the US military. At the same time, however, the emerging Cold War highlighted the need for a capable air service to counter the threat from the Soviet Union. In 1946, the War Department redesignated the Continental Air Forces as the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and established the Air Defense Command and Tactical Air Command.
A year later, the National Security Act of 1947 was signed into law, and separated the Air Force from the Army, creating the Department of the Air Force and establishing a Secretary of the Air Force. It established the United States Air Force as the fifth branch of the US military.
On September 18, 1947, W. Stuart Symington became Secretary of the Air Force—establishing the anniversary that endures to the present.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
