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SERVING THE BEST TROOPS IN THE WORLD 
This week we celebrate the 60th birthday of The United States Air Force! September 18 is celebrated as Air Force Day to honor the establishment on that day in 1947 of the U.S. Air Force. 
Senior Airman Andrew Krueger prepares to push the button that will set off a controlled detonation Sept. 1 in Afghanistan. Approximately 900 pounds of small arms ammunition, rocket propelled grenades and mortars were turned in by provincial citizens under the small arms for rewards program. Airman Krueger is an explosive ordnance specialist assigned to Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi) 
On Sept. 18, 1947, W. Stuart Symington was sworn in as the first secretary of the Air Force with the new Secretary of Defense James V. Forrestal in attendance. After many years of planning, an independent air arm was formed, an equal to the Army and Navy. Based on achievements in air superiority, the Air Force became the "first line of defense" in a post-war world. 
The U.S. Air Force history actually began decades earlier, when on Aug. 1, 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corps established a small Aeronautical Division to take "charge of all matters pertaining to military ballooning, air machines and all kindred subjects."
From the close of the Civil War until 1907, the Signal Corps had acquired eight balloons, though two more were procured in 1907. A year later the Signal Corps purchased a small dirigible, used at Fort Omaha, Neb., for the instruction of servicemen. But not until May 26, 1909, did Lieutenants Frank P. Lahm and Benjamin D. Foulois make their first ascent and qualify as the airship's first Army pilots.
 The Signal Corps began testing its first airplane at Fort Myer, Va., on Aug. 20, 1908. After more testing with an improved Wright Flyer, the Army formally accepted the airplane, identified as "Airplane No. 1," on Aug. 2, 1909. 
Four years after the Signal Corps took charge of air matters, Congress appropriated funds for Army aeronautics: $125,000 for fiscal 1912. By the close of October 1912, the Signal Corps had acquired 11 aircraft, but possessed only nine. "Airplane No. 1" had been given to the Smithsonian Institution, and one other had been demolished in an accident. 
The 1st Provisional Aero Squadron began flying activities in early 1913. On Dec. 4, 1913, general orders redesignated the unit as the 1st Aero Squadron, effective Dec. 8, 1913. This first military unit of the U.S. Army devoted exclusively to aviation, today designated the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, has remained continuously active since its creation. Assigned a role in the Punitive Expedition of the Mexican border in 1916, this squadron became the first air combat unit of the U.S. Army. More early history of the U.S. Air Force can be found here! 
Our birthday celebration is dedicated to the men and women who made the U.S. Air Force what it is today. The people, events and equipment of the past are integral to understanding the future. 
Jul 8, 1943 Col. M.G. Grow, 8th Air Force surgeon, received the Legion of Merit for developing the flak vest. Jan 1, 1944 U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe is activated. Feb 20, 1948 The Strategic Air Command receives its first B-50 Superfortress bomber. Equipped for in-flight refueling, the B-50 is an improved version of the B-29 with larger engines and a taller tail fin and rudder. Mar 2, 1949 Lucky Lady II lands at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. The B-50 Superfortress completes the first nonstop, around-the-world flight in history, covering 23,452 miles in 94 hours and 1 minute. 
Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran was a leading aviatrix who promoted an independent Air Force and was the director of women's flying training for the Women's Airforce Service Pilots program during World War II. She held more speed, altitude and distance records than any other male or female pilot in aviation history at the time of her death. As a test pilot, she flew and tested the first turbo-supercharger ever installed on an aircraft engine in 1934. During the following two years, she became the first person to fly and test the forerunner to the Pratt & Whitney 1340 and 1535 engines. In 1938, she flew and tested the first wet wing ever installed on an aircraft. With Dr. Randolph Lovelace, she helped design the first oxygen mask, and then became the first person to fly above 20,000 feet wearing one. She set three speed records, won the Clifford Burke Harmon trophy three times and set a world altitude record of 33,000 feet – all before 1940. In the year 1941, Cochran captured an aviation first when she became the first woman pilot to pilot a military bomber across the Atlantic Ocean.
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was designed in 1937 as a high-altitude interceptor. The first one built, the XP-38, made its public debut on Feb. 11, 1939 by flying from California to New York in seven hours. The P-38 Lightning introduced a new dimension to American fighters - a second engine. The multi-engine configuration reduced the Lightning loss-rate to anti-aircraft gunfire during ground attack missions. Late in 1942, it went into large-scale operations during the North African campaign where the German Luftwaffe named it "Der Gabelschwanz Teufel"--"The Forked-Tail Devil."
Sep 1, 1953 The U.S. Air Force announces the first instance of aerial refueling of jet-powered aircraft by jet-powered aircraft, in which a standard B-47 Stratojet received fuel in the air from a KB-47B Stratojet. Apr 1, 1954 President Eisenhower signs into law a bill creating the U.S. Air Force Academy. Jun 11, 1957 Assigned to the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, the first U-2 high-altitude, long-range reconnaissance aircraft arrives at Laughlin AFB, Texas. The U-2 can fly 10-hour missions at exceptionally high altitudes at a top speed of 600 mph. Feb 6, 1959 The U.S. Air Force successfully launches the first Titan I ICBM. With a range of 5,500 nautical miles, the two-stage liquid-fueled missile will be deployed in underground silos but has to be raised to the surface before launch. 
James Jabara, the world's first jet ace, was born in Muskogee, Okla., October 1923. Jabara graduated from Wichita, Kan., High School in May 1942, and immediately enlisted as an aviation cadet at Fort Riley. After two tours of combat duty, Jabara had earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and oak leaf cluster, as well as a reputation as a perfectionist in the air. Jabara arrived in Korea in December, 1950, flying the brand-new F-86 Sabre as a member of the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing, the top-scoring American fighter unit of World War II. The 4th FIW was rushing the unproven F-86 into combat to counter the Soviet-made MiG-15. Wichita's airport was renamed in his honor and the Air Force Academy's Col. James Jabara award annually recognizes academy graduates whose significant contributions to the Air Force set them apart from their contemporaries. 
The F-101 Voodoo made its first flight on Sept. 29, 1954. The first production F-101A became operational in May 1957, followed by the F-101C in September 1957 and the F-101B in January 1959. By the time F-101 production ended in March 1961, McDonnell had built 785 Voodoos including 480 F-101Bs, the two-seat, all-weather interceptor used by the Air Defense Command. In the reconnaissance versions, the Voodoo was the world's first supersonic photo-recon aircraft. RF-101s were used widely for low-altitude photo coverage of missile sites during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and during the late 1960s in Southeast Asia. Attack fighter, interceptor and reconnaissance versions served with the U.S. Strategic Air Defense and Tactical Air Commands and in Canada. The multimission F-101 Voodoo was used by all three U.S. Air Force Commands, Strategic, Tactical and Air Defense.
Jul 21, 1961 America's second Project Mercury astronaut, Capt. Virgil I. Grissom, attains an altitude of 118 miles and flies 5,310 mph in a 303-mile sub-orbital space flight from Cape Canaveral in the Liberty Bell 7 capsule. Mar 5, 1965 U.S. Air Force's F-111 completes its first supersonic flight at Fort Worth, Texas. Jun 18, 1965 Strategic Air Command B-52s are used for the first time in Vietnam when 28 aircraft, flying from Guam, strike Vietcong targets near Saigon. Mar 15, 1967 The Sikorsky HH-53B, the largest and fastest helicopter in U.S. Air Force inventory, makes its first flight. It is slated for Aerospace Rescue and Recovery operations in Southeast Asia.  Flying on almost 300 rescue missions in Vietnam, Bill Pitsenbarger risked his life almost daily during the war rescuing downed soldiers and fliers. On April 11, 1966, the 21-year-old known as "Pits" to his friends was killed while defending some of his wounded comrades. For his bravery and sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military decorations, the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross, becoming the first enlisted airman to receive the medals posthumously. Although Pitsenbarger didn't escape alive, nine other men did, thanks to his courage and devotion to duty. On Dec. 8, 2000, the airman's father, William F. Pitsenbarger, and his wife, Alice, accepted the Medal of Honor from Secretary of the Air Force Whit Peters. The audience included battle survivors, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a congressional representative and the Air Force chief of staff.
He was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant. The U.S. Navy has also named a chartered ship, the MV A1C William H. Pitsenbarger. The ship prepositions Air Force ammunition at sea near potential war or contingency sites. 
The SR-71, unofficially known as the "Blackbird," is a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft.
The first flight of an SR-71 took place on December 22, 1964, and the first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later, 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., in January 1966. The Air Force retired its fleet of SR-71s on Jan. 26, 1990, because of a decreasing defense budget and high costs of operation. The Air Force returned the SR-71 to the active Air Force inventory in 1995 and began flying operational missions in January 1997. The aircraft were permanently retired a few years later. Throughout its nearly 24-year career, the SR-71 remained the world's fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft. From 80,000 feet it could survey 100,000 square miles of Earth's surface per hour.
Mar 18, 1971 Capt. Marcelite C. Jordon becomes the first woman aircraft maintenance officer after completing the Aircraft Maintenance Officer School. Jan 13, 1975 The Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. John L. McLucas, selects the General Dynamics YF-16 prototype as the U.S. Air Force's air combat fighter, a low-cost, lightweight, highly maneuverable fighter aircraft. Apr 10, 1975 The B-1 Lancer aircraft attains supersonic flight speed for the first time. Sep 2, 1977 The first class of women pilots graduates at Williams AFB, Ariz. 
While a lieutenant in the spring of 1975, flight nurse Regina Aune became the first and only woman to receive the Cheney Award, recognizing an act of valor "in a humanitarian interest performed in connection with aircraft." She did it saving orphans during "Operation Babylift." Now a colonel, Aune is the commander of the 377th Medical Group at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M. 
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack.
It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. In an air combat role, the F-16's maneuverability and combat radius (distance it can fly to enter air combat, stay, fight and return) exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft. It can locate targets in all weather conditions and detect low flying aircraft in radar ground clutter.
In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles (860 kilometers), deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its starting point.
Dec 3, 1983 The National Transonic Tunnel, a wind tunnel to test ultra-fast aircraft, is dedicated at Langley AFB, Va. Nov 10, 1988 The U.S. Air Force reveals the F-117A Stealth fighter to the public for the first time. Manufactured by Lockheed, using radar-absorbent materials and a radical new design, the F-117A can evade radar detection. Dec 14, 1989 For the first time, Military Airlift Command allows women to serve as crew members on C-130 and C-141 airdrop missions. This marks the entry of women into combat crew roles. Dec 20, 1989 In Operation Just Cause, Military Airlift Command units transport 9,500 airborne troops from Pope AFB, N.C., to Panama in less than 36 hours, making it the largest night-combat airdrop since the Normandy invasion of 1944. 
General Daniel 'Chappie' James Jr. was the first African-American promoted to the rank of Air Force four-star general. He was another of the great Tuskegee Airmen, but didn't see action until the Korean War. His career spanned three wars and 30 years, and he was a recognized civil rights pioneer. He was an eloquent speaker for the Air Force known for his thoughts on Americanism and patriotism. General James was promoted to four-star grade and assigned as commander in chief, NORAD/ADCOM, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., Sept. 1, 1975. In these dual capacities, he had operational command of all United States and Canadian strategic aerospace defense forces. His last position was special assistant to the Air Force chief of staff.
He was awarded the George Washington Freedom Foundation Medal in 1967 and again in 1968. He received the Arnold Air Society Eugene M. Zuckert Award, in 1970, for outstanding contributions to Air Force professionalism. His citation read "...fighter pilot with a magnificent record, public speaker, and eloquent spokesman for the American Dream we so rarely achieve." 
The A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II is the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. They are simple, effective and survivable twin-engine jet aircraft that can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles. The A-10/OA-10 have excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and are highly accurate weapons-delivery platforms. They can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings with 1.5-mile visibility. It was designed specially for the close air support mission and had the ability to combine large military loads, long loiter and wide combat radius, which proved to be vital assets to the United States and its allies during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Noble Anvil. In the Gulf War, A-10s had a mission capable rate of 95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles.
Feb 28, 1991 The Gulf War ends at 8 a.m. with a coalition-declared cease-fire. Overall, during the entire Gulf air war, the F-117A Stealth fighter-bombers have flown only 2 percent of the combat sorties but have attacked 40 percent of Iraqi strategic targets. Jan 30, 1992 U.S. Air Force Space Command assumes control of Defense Department satellites and the operation and management of the Air Force Satellite Control Network. Jan 4, 1996 Operation Provide Promise, the longest sustained humanitarian airlift in history, officially ends, after delivering 160,536 metric tons of relief cargo since July 1992. The U.S. Air Force flew 4,597 of the 12,895 sorties. Apr 9, 1997 Rollout of the Lockheed-Martin-Boeing F-22 Raptor stealth air superiority fighter designed to secure air dominance for the United States in the twenty-first century. 
Technical Sgt. Tim Wilkinson was a recipient of the Air Force Cross for his heroic actions in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993. His mission was supporting Task Force Ranger during an 15-hour firefight, the longest sustained firefight by U.S. forces since the Vietnam War. He became the first enlisted person to earn the Air Force Cross since 1975. Wilkinson and a fellow pararescueman, who had been wounded set about treating and recovering the downed helicopter crew. Small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades crisscrossed the streets. As Rangers kept the militia at bay, Wilkinson raced through the fury to retrieve wounded and dead American soldiers. Even when shrapnel tore a chunk of skin off his face, Wilkinson did not falter. His awards include the Air Force Cross, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Services Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster. 
The C-17 Globemaster III is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area.
The aircraft is also capable of performing tactical airlift and airdrop missions when required. The inherent flexibility and performance of the C-17 force improve the ability of the total airlift system to fulfill the worldwide air mobility requirements of the United States.
Reliability and maintainability are two outstanding benefits of the C-17 system. Current operational requirements impose demanding reliability and maintainability. These requirements include an aircraft mission completion success probability rate of 92 percent, only 20 aircraft maintenance man-hours per flying hour, and full and partial mission availability rates of 74.7 and 82.5 percent, respectively.
Several events will take place to commemorate the 60th birthday of the Air Force, including: White House Military Office (AF Cake Cutting ceremony), Washington, D.C.
NGA Air Force's 60th Birthday, Bethesda, MD
Camp Victory 60th Celebration, Baghdad, Iraq
AF60th Anniversary Ball , Vance AFB, OK
USAF 60th Birthday - Pentagon Center Courtyard, Arlington, VA Click here to read about several events!
 On October 14, 2006, The Air Force Memorial was given to our Nation in formal dedication ceremonies. Located on a promontory in Arlington, Virginia, overlooking the Pentagon and adjacent to Arlington Cemetery, the Air Force Memorial is easily seen on the skyline of Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia in Arlington county. James Ingo Freed, one of America’s finest architects, gave the nation a design that truly honors the men and women of the Air Force. Featuring three stainless steel spires that soar skyward, the tallest reaching a height of 270 feet, the Memorial’s design is truly representative of flight and the flying spirit of the Air Force. The three spires impart a sense of accomplishment in command of the sky, and evoke the image of the precision “bomb burst” maneuver performed by the United States Air Force Thunderbird Demonstration Team.
The three spires also represent the three core values of the Air Force - integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all that is done - and the Air Force’s total force - active, guard and reserve.
Embedded in granite beneath the three central spires is the Air Force "star," which has long been emblazoned on Air Force aircraft and serves as the rank insignia of every enlisted member of the Air Force. Other key elements of the Memorial include a Runway to Glory at the site entrance, a bronze Honor Guard statue developed by the renowned sculptor, Zenos Frudakis, two granite inscription walls located at either end of the central lawn and a Glass Contemplation Wall that honors fallen airmen. Go here to learn more about The Air Force Memorial 
FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.
Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. Let's have fun! We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity. We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon. We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way. God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always |
