United States Air Force Birthday – September 18, 1947
This year marks the 74th year of celebrating the founding of the U.S. Air Force as a separate branch of the military. Before the creation of the U.S. Air Force, flying operations were handled by the U.S. Army over land and the U.S. Navy at sea. According to Vetaran.com, today the U.S. Air Force has more than 300,000 troops on active duty – with 20,000 of them serving as pilots. The combined strength of the U.S. Air Force (including Guard and Reserve) is more than 500,000 people strong.

Help recognize this important day in American history by looking up to the sky, thanking an Airman for their service, flying your American flag, or volunteering.

Photo Courtesy of DVIDS: Retired Capt. Jerry Yellin, a former U.S. Army Air Corps fighter pilot, dangles in the parachute trainer during pre-flight orientation training Dec. 16, 2016, at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. Now 92, he enlisted two months after the bombing of Hickam Air Field and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on his 18th birthday in February of 1942. After graduating from Luke Air Field as a fighter pilot in August 1943, he spent the remainder of the war flying P-40, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang combat missions in the Pacific with the 78th Fighter Squadron, known as the “Bushmasters.” (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Meares), 12/14/2016 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs, LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, TX, UNITED STATES.