Overview
Predecessors of, 1907–46
Since 1947

USAF

The part of the U.S. armed forces with primary responsibility for air warfare, military space research, and air defense. It also provides air services to other branches of the armed services. Created as an independent service in 1947, the Air Force is part of the Department of Defense and is headquartered at the Pentagon.

Military air activities began as part of the Army, with the use of reconnaissance balloons in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War (1898). Previous names have included the Air Service (1920-1926), Air Corps (1926-1941), and Army Air Forces.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.