Portal:United States Air Force
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 The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. Initially born as the United States Army Air Corps, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947. It was the last branch of the US military to be formed. The USAF is the largest, most technologically advanced air force in the world, with about 5,778 manned aircraft in service (4,093 USAF; 1,289 Air National Guard; and 396 Air Force Reserve); approximately 156 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles, 2130 Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, and 450 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles; and as of 30 September 2007, had 328,600 personnel on active duty, 117,497 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 106,700 in the Air National Guard. In addition, the Air Force employs 168,900 civilian personnel including indirect hire of foreign nationals. The Department of the Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force who heads administrative affairs. The Department of the Air Force is a division of the Department of Defense, headed by the Secretary of Defense. The highest ranking military officer in the Department of the Air Force is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.  Photo credit: Master Sergeant Lance Cheung, 18 August 2006. USAF photo. Mission briefing for missiliers at Minot Air Force Base.
photo source: Air Force Link  The 37th Training Wing is the host unit of Lackland Air Force Base. It was initially activated in 1940 and served in the Panama Canal Zone during World War II. The wing saw extensive action during the Vietnam War as host unit of Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam. In the 1980s the wing trained Wild Weasel pilots in the F-4 Phantom II before taking over F-117 Nighthawk operations in 1989 and participating in Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm. The wing took over Air Force basic military training in 1993.  ... that Operation Northern Delay was an airborne operation that tied down six Iraqi divisions in northern Iraq? The operation was conducted by C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 62d and 446th Airlift Wings dropping members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. The crew of the lead aircraft was award the Mackay Trophy for "most meritorious flight of the year."  The F-101 Voodoo was the second of the "Century Series" aircraft. The aircraft was designed in the wake of World War II as a long-range bomber escort. Development continued into the 1950s with the first production model delivered to the Air Force in 1957. By that time the introduction of jet bombers had rendered fighter escorts unnecessary, so the role of the Voodoo changed to conducting interceptor, strike, and photo reconnaissance missions. F-101s played a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis by providing reconnaissance over Cuba. The Voodoo was also employed in the early stages of the Vietnam War, primarily conducting reconnaissance roles. Additionally, the aircraft was used extensively for air defense in the United States. Voodoo aircraft and crews also trained to employ tactical nuclear weapons. A total of 807 aircraft were built for the Air Force. When the F-4 Phantom II was delivered it proved to be for more capable than the Voodoo, consequently it was retired from active service in 1972 and from the Air National Guard in 1982.  Colonel Charles B. DeBellevue (b. 1945) is the highest scoring American ace of the Vietnam War. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. After high school DeBellevue attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana and earned a commission as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1968. After entering the Air Force he completed navigator training and was assigned as a F-4 Phantom II Weapon Systems Officer. DeBellevue served in the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base from 1971-1972. He is credited with 6 aerial victories during that period, making him the only Weapons Systems Officer to become an ace and the highest scoring American ace of the war. Four of his victories were earned while flying with R. Stephen Ritchie and two while flying with John A. Madden, Jr. For his exploits during the war DeBellevue was awarded an Air Force Cross and was a co-recipient of the Mackay Trophy. After his service in Vietnam DeBellevue returned to flight school and became a pilot, remaining with in the F-4 airframe. Over the course of his career he served in a number of operations and staff position and commanded the 95th Air Base Wing and AFROTC Detachment 440. Colonel DeBellevue retired from active duty in 1998. 
WASP Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal Summary: President Barack Obama and the United States Congress awarded the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service during World War II. Three of the roughly 300 surviving WASPs were on hand to witness the signing on 1 July. More than 1,000 women joined the WASP during the war to fly non-combat mission in the United States, and 38 died while carrying out their missions. The WASPs were not officially part of the military during the war and did not receive status as veterans until 1977. During the ceremony President Obama said, "The Women Airforce Service Pilots courageously answered their country's call in a time of need while blazing a trail for the brave women who have given and continue to give so much in service to this nation since. Every American should be grateful for their service, and I am honored to sign this bill to finally give them some of the hard-earned recognition they deserve."  "Since the Nation's birth, it has been the constitutional duty of our military to ensure national survival, defend lives and property, and promote vital interests at home and abroad. The enduring responsibility of the United States Air Force is to provide strategic deterrence for the Nation and fly, fight and win as an integral part of the Joint Team. Together with our brothers and sisters in arms, we underwrite the national strategy of defending the Homeland and assuring allies, while dissuading, deterring and defeating enemies."
Schwartz, General Norton A. (September 3, 2008). "Fly, Fight and Win!". CSAF's Vector. United States Air Force. http://www.af.mil/library/viewpoints/csaf.asp?id=405. Retrieved on February 19, 2009.
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