On September 18, 1947, the Air Force became its own service, borne out of its succeses in WWII as a branch of the Army – and in recognition of its potential as a game changer in the wars of the future. Less than a month later, an Air Force test pilot broke the speed of sound in the XS-1. His name was Chuck Yeager.
That monumental event not only announced a new era in American air superiority, it gave the world a glimpse at what the U.S. Air Force would become.
Namely, it has become the most effective, most technologically advanced, and the most brutally efficient air force in the world – and recognized as a vital part of joint operations today.
Happy birthday, Air Force!
