U.S. Air Force Marks 75 Years: 5 Things To Know

In the wake of WWII, the Department of the Air Force became a stand-alone service on September 18, 1947, created by the National Security Act signed into law by President Harry Truman.

Kimberly Johnson

Monday, September 19, 2022 at 05:29 PM ET

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WIESBADEN, Germany -- Five C-47 Skytrains fly in formation over the D-Day Doll, a C-47, on the flight line at Clay Kaserne, Germany, June 10, 2019. The C-47s were conducting a fly-over for the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force ]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force was established 75 years ago in 1947, transitioning from the Army Air Forces after its critical role in World War II, to become an independent and essential component of national defense.
Key milestones include Capt. Chuck Yeager's historic supersonic flight in 1947, early humanitarian missions like the Berlin Airlift, and the gradual opening of flight training and service academies to women from the mid-1970s.
The USAF's history is marked by the development and deployment of iconic fighter and bomber aircraft, such as the P-51 Mustang, F-16, and the enduring B-52 Stratofortress, solidifying its strategic importance in deterrence.