Difference between revisions of "United States Air Force"

Latest revision as of 23:10, 4 March 2013

Nothing can stop the US Air Force!

The United States Air Force (USAF) is a branch of the US Military reponsible for aerial combat. The Air Force split from the US Army in 1947.

History

The roots of the United States Air Force start, as with the air wings of most western nations, with World War I. During the war, US forces used mainly British- and French-built aircraft. One of the first major US-built aircraft was the very popular Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny." The Army Air Corps' first well known Ace Pilot was Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 27, 1973), with 26 aerial victories. Early well known Army Air Corps pilots also include Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, and Lt. Quentin Roosevelt (son of Teddy Roosevelt.)

In the period between World War I and World War II, the size and aircraft types of the Army Air Corp was expanded and updated to keep pace with other Western nations. Before the outbreak of the War, American pilots served in both the Pacific and European theaters in "volunteer" squadrons, the most notable being the RAF Eagle Squadrons and Chinese Flying Tigers.

During the Second World War, the Army Air Corps was heavily involved with fighting in all theaters and was most notable for taking part in daylight bombing raids as part of the Allied strategic air campaign against Nazi Germany. One of the well known leaders of the corps during the war was Curtis LeMay (November 15, 1906 – October 1, 1990), who was in command of the US bomber campaign in the Pacific against the Empire of Japan. One famous mission from the early part of the war was The Doolittle Raid.

On September 26, 1947, the Air Force was created as a separate military branch from the US Army. The United States Air Force has 3 main commands: Bomber Command, Fighter Command, and Airlift Command. Bomber Command is in charge of the Air Forces' Strategic and Atomic attack assets, while Fighter Command is over the operation of interception and close support operations, and Airlift Command maintains the supply and logistics wings. They maintain bases all over the world and, as part of NATO, have a major strategic presence in Europe.

Air Force Anthem

Off we go into the wild blue yonder, Climbing high into the sun; Here they come zooming to meet our thunder, At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!) Down we dive, spouting our flame from under, Off with one helluva roar! We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey! Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!

Notable Aircraft

Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny."

Bombers

B-2 Condor
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-18 Bolo
B-23 Dragon
B-24 Liberator
B-25 Mitchell
B-26 Marauda
B-29 Super Fortress
B-34 Ventura
B-36 Peacemaker
B-45 Tornado
B-47 Stratojet
B-52 Stratofortress
B-57 Canberra
B-58 Hustler
FB-111 Aardvark
F-117 Nighthawk
B-1B Lancer
B-2A Spirit

Patrol

PBY Catalina

Reconnaissance

SR-71 Blackbird
U-2 Dragon Lady

Airborne Radar

E-3 Sentry
E-4 "Nightwatch"
E-6 Mercury
E-8 Joint STARS
E-11 (Unnamed)

Cargo

C-47 Skytrain
C-130 Hercules
C-5 Galaxy
KC-10 Extender
C-17 Globemaster III
KC-46 (Unnamed)
KC-135 Stratotanker

Pursuit

P-1 Hawk
P-38 Lightning
P-40 Warhawk
P-43 Lancer
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-51 Mustang
P-59 Airacomet
P-63 Kingcobra
P-66 Vanguard
P-75 Eagle
P-80 Shooting Star

Fighter

F-82 Twin Mustang
F-84 Thunderjet
F-86 Sabre
F-94 Starfire
F-97 Starfire
F-100 Super Sabre
F-101 Voodoo
F-102 Delta Dagger
F-104 Starfighter
F-105 Thunderchief
F-106 Delta Dart
F-4 Phantom II
F-5 Tiger II
F-15 Eagle
- F-15E Strike Eagle
- F-15SE Silent Eagle
F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-22 Raptor
F-35 Lightning II

Attack

A-7E Corsair II
A-10A/C/OA-10A Thunderbolt II(otherwise known as The Warthog)
AV-8B Harrier II
AC-47 Spooky
AC-130H/U Spectre/Spooky II

The USAF in Science Fiction

In the Stargate universe Stargate Command is (for the most part) under the Administration of the United States Airforce.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[File:030414-F-6591P-002.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Nothing can stop the US Air Force!]]
 The '''United States Air Force''' (USAF) is a branch of the US Military reponsible for aerial combat. The Air Force split from the US Army in 1947.
 == History ==
-The Roots of the '''United States Air Force''' start, as with the air wings of most western nations, with [[Great War|World War I]].  During the war itself US forces used mainly British and French built aircraft.  One of the first major US built aircraft was the very popular Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny."  The Army Air Corps first well known Ace Pilot was Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 27, 1973) with 26 aerial victories.  Early well known Army Air Corps pilots also include Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, and Lt. Quentin Roosevelt(son of Teddy Roosevelt.)
+The roots of the '''United States Air Force''' start, as with the air wings of most western nations, with [[Great War|World War I]].  During the war, US forces used mainly British- and French-built aircraft.  One of the first major US-built aircraft was the very popular Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny."  The Army Air Corps' first well known Ace Pilot was Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 27, 1973), with 26 aerial victories.  Early well known Army Air Corps pilots also include Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, and Lt. Quentin Roosevelt (son of Teddy Roosevelt.)
-In the period between World War I and the lead up to [[World War II]], The size and aircraft types of the Army Air Corp was expanded and updated to keep pace with other Western nations.  Before the outbreak of the War, American pilots served in both the Pacific and European Theaters in "volunteer" squadrons the most notable being the RAF Eagle Squadrons and Chinese Flying Tigers.
+In the period between World War I and [[World War II]], the size and aircraft types of the Army Air Corp was expanded and updated to keep pace with other Western nations.  Before the outbreak of the War, American pilots served in both the Pacific and European theaters in "volunteer" squadrons, the most notable being the RAF Eagle Squadrons and Chinese Flying Tigers.
-During the War, the Army Air Corps was heavily involved with fighting in all theaters of the war and was most notable as taking part in the daylight raids as part of the Allied strategic air campaign against [[Nazi Germany]].  One of the well known leaders of the corps during the war was Curtis LeMay (November 15, 1906 – October 1, 1990) who was in command of the US bomber campaign in the Pacific against the Empire of Japan.  One famous mission from the early part of the war was The Doolittle Raid.
+During the Second World War, the Army Air Corps was heavily involved with fighting in all theaters and was most notable for taking part in daylight bombing raids as part of the Allied strategic air campaign against [[Nazi Germany]].  One of the well known leaders of the corps during the war was Curtis LeMay (November 15, 1906 – October 1, 1990), who was in command of the US bomber campaign in the Pacific against the Empire of Japan.  One famous mission from the early part of the war was The Doolittle Raid.
-On September 26, 1947, the Air Force was created as a separate Branch from the [[US Army]].  The United States Air Force has 3 main commands, Bomber Command, Fighter Command and Airlift Command.  Bomber Command is in charge of the Air Forces' Strategic and Atomic attack assets, while Fighter Command is over the operation of interception and close support operations and Airlift Command maintains the supply and logistics wings.  They maintain bases all over the world and as part of NATO has a major strategic presence in Europe.
+On September 26, 1947, the Air Force was created as a separate military branch from the [[United States Army|US Army]].  The United States Air Force has 3 main commands: Bomber Command, Fighter Command, and Airlift Command.  Bomber Command is in charge of the Air Forces' Strategic and Atomic attack assets, while Fighter Command is over the operation of interception and close support operations, and Airlift Command maintains the supply and logistics wings.  They maintain bases all over the world and, as part of NATO, have a major strategic presence in Europe.
+== Air Force Anthem ==
+Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
+Climbing high into the sun;
+Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
+At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)
+Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
+Off with one helluva roar!
+We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
+Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
 == Notable Aircraft ==
@@ Line 16: / Line 28: @@
 ===Bombers===
+*B-2 Condor
 *B-17 Flying Fortress
+*B-18 Bolo
+*B-23 Dragon
 *B-24 Liberator
 *B-25 Mitchell
+*B-26 Marauda
 *B-29 Super Fortress
-*B-36 Peacemaker
+*B-34 Ventura
+*[[B-36|B-36 Peacemaker]]
+*B-45 Tornado
 *B-47 Stratojet
 *B-52 Stratofortress
+*B-57 Canberra
+*B-58 Hustler
 *FB-111 Aardvark
 *F-117 Nighthawk
@@ Line 30: / Line 50: @@
 ===Patrol===
 *PBY Catalina
+===Reconnaissance===
 *SR-71 Blackbird
+*U-2 Dragon Lady
 ===Airborne Radar===
+*E-3 Sentry
+*E-4 "Nightwatch"
+*E-6 Mercury
+*E-8 Joint STARS
 *E-11 (Unnamed)
@@ Line 45: / Line 72: @@
 ===Pursuit===
+*P-1 Hawk
 *P-38 Lightning
 *P-40 Warhawk
+*P-43 Lancer
 *P-47 Thunderbolt
 *P-51 Mustang
+*P-59 Airacomet
+*P-63 Kingcobra
+*P-66 Vanguard
+*P-75 Eagle
+*P-80 Shooting Star
 ===Fighter===
+*F-82 Twin Mustang
+*F-84 Thunderjet
 *F-86 Sabre
+*F-94 Starfire
+*F-97 Starfire
 *F-100 Super Sabre
+*F-101 Voodoo
+*F-102 Delta Dagger
+*F-104 Starfighter
+*F-105 Thunderchief
+*F-106 Delta Dart
 *F-4 Phantom II
 *F-5 Tiger II