History

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History

Seventy-eight years ago today, on Sept. 18, 1947, Supreme Court Chief Justice Fred Vinson swore in Stuart Symington as the first ever Secretary of the Air Force, and the Air Force officially became the first new military service since the Revolutionary War. 
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action. 

WORLD: History

Sept. 12, 2025
Last Hurrah for the Storied U-2 By John A. Tirpak A year away from its likely retirement—and 70 years to the day after the first U-2 flight—a two-seat version of the Dragon Lady from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale...
Inside a Vietnam War aircrew’s shootdown and the fight to honor their courage. The 10 Airmen of Stinger 41 knew the risks of flying their AC-119K gunship in daylight over enemy anti-aircraft gunners—a rare mission for an aircraft designed for...
“Willie the Whip” revolutionized airlift transport. Bill Tunner was an airlift genius who was formative in shaping America’s worldwide power projection capability. Airlift may not always be glamorous, but it is usually essential in achieving the nation’s political objectives.   ...
The Air Force Academy's football Falcons will celebrate the F-16 Fighting Falcon with a new airpower uniform unveiled Aug. 13. The new special edition uniforms are the latest in what has become an annual special outfit for rivalry games, dubbed the “Air Power Legacy Series.”