Happy 78th birthday to the United States Air Force, which was officially established on September 18, 1947! While flying operations existed before the establishment of the Air Force, all flying operations were originally handled as part of the U.S. Army.
Today, the Air Force has over 689,000 personnel. “Airmen work to support all aspects of airpower, which includes five core functions: air superiority; global strike; rapid global mobility; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and command and control” (Source: Air Force About Us page).
Air Force members celebrate the Air Force Birthday with various events, including air demonstrations by the Thunderbirds precision combat air demonstration squadron.
Ways to recognize the Air Force’s Birthday
Veteran.com recommends recognizing the Air Force’s Birthday in one of the following ways:
- Check for parades and events celebrating Air Force contributions to the local community.
- Donate to an Air Force-specific charity or Veteran Service Organization (VSO). Examples include Air Commando Association, Air Force Association, and Air Force Sergeants Association.
- Volunteer time at Air Force base organizations and charities that operate on military bases such as the Red Cross or Air Force Aid Society.
- Donate time or money to the Air Force Assistance Fund or the nearest base with an Airman Family Readiness Center.