HISTORY DISPATCH

The Army and Navy Spread Their Wings

In 1905 the Wright Brothers offered the Army a license to use their patents. In September 1908, Orville & Wilbur were the only ones who put in an appearance with an airplane for the Army trials.

America Becomes Air-Minded

As the summer of 1910 rolled around, the flights of F. W. Baldwin and Glenn Curtiss, as well as the recognition accorded the Wrights by the Army, kindled at last the public imagination. 

Almanac: U.S. Air Force Established (September 18, 1947)

The establishment of the U.S. Air Force as a separate branch of the U.S. military has a history that spans several decades.

Apache Over Alaska (Photography)

An Army AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter is captured in flight over an Alaskan mountain range.

Heritage Hawg - WWII Heritage A10 Thunderbolt II (Photography)

A pilot with the 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Fighter Wing, Boise, Idaho, flies an A-10 Thunderbolt II, with a newly painted World War II heritage paint scheme.

Ceremonial Spray Down / MH-60 Jayhawk (Photography)

A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, taxis through a ceremonial spray down for a crewmember's last flight.

Arctic Thunder - Contrails (Photography)

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds weave contrails through the sky as they perform.

Thunderbirds (Photography)

The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" perform at the Cocoa Beach Air Show in Florida.

Warthog Flares (Photography)

A U.S. Air Force pilot releases flares at the 2020 Fort Lauderdale Air Show.

Ferry Flight (Photography)

An AA-1 Ferry Flight to Edwards AFB, California is photographed from a KC-135 Tanker.

A-10 Thunderbolt II / 75th Fighter Squadron (Photography)

An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 75th Fighter Squadron refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker from 465th Air Refueling Squadron.

Sea Knight - Grand Canyon (Photography)

The U.S. Marine Corps Medium Helicopter Squadron flew CH-46E helicopters into the Grand Canyon during Operation Havasupai.

B-1B Lancer - 37th Bomb Squadron (Photography)

An Air Force B-1B Lancer approaches a KC-10 Extender for in-flight refueling over Nevada and Utah.

Bomber Mission / B-52 Stratofortress (Photography)

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress from the 5th Bomb Wing breaks away from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a strategic bomber mission off the northern Norwegian coast.

C-130 Cargo Drop (Photography)

A C-130 transport aircraft air drops container delivery systems with water cargo.

Homeward Bound / F-35B Lightning II & F-18 Hornets (Photography)

The first production F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter flies toward its new home escorted by Marine Corps F-18 Hornets.

Eagles Mission F-15C/D Eagles (Photography)

U.S. Air Force F-15C/D Eagles conduct an aerial mission in support of NATO Air Police operations over Iceland.

Harriers Over Afghanistan (Photography)

Two Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier pilots fly over southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan after conducting an aerial refuel.

Night Chopper - Sea Stallion (Photography)

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53D Sea Stallion prepares for an early morning mission in Afghanistan.

Bomber: The Formation and Early Years of Strategic Air Command (Free PDF Book)

This book places Strategic Air Command (SAC) in the context of what was then a new global dynamic, later dubbed the Cold War, showing how it faced the continually evolving challenges of its time.