Army Air Corps

The successor to the U.S. Army Air Service, authorized by an act of Congress of July 2, 1926. Responsible in the interwar period for all Army aviation activities, notably the development of strategic bombing doctrine, technological advances in aircraft and supporting equipment, and large scale training of aviators beginning in 1930, the Army Air Corps achieved semi-independent status as the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) on June 1, 1941. Commanded during World War II by Gen. Henry H. “Hap” Arnold, the USAAF planned and carried out the strategic bombing of Germany and Japan and provided air superiority, close air support, interdiction, troop carrier, and air transport support for the Army. With the passage of the National Security Act of July 1947, the old Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces became an independent service as the U.S. Air Force.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.