United State Air Force (USAF) – Military History Society of Rochester

Focuses on airpower, protecting national interests through air supremacy, global reach, and rapid agility.

Relics at the Museum – 2026-04-03 21:15:46

Relics at the Museum – 2026-04-03 21:15:23

Models at the Museum – 2026-04-03 21:12:39

United States Air Force
Emblem of the United States Air Force^[1] United States Air Force Symbol
Founded	18 September 1947 (78 years, 6 months)^[2]
Country	United States
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	321,848 active duty personnel^[a]^[3] 105,104 Air National Guard personnel^[b]^[3] 68,927 Air Force Reserve personnel^[c]^[3] 495,879 total uniformed personnel 147,879 civilians^[d]^[4] approx 65,000 Civil Air Patrol auxiliaries^[5] approx. 5,500 combat aircraft^[6] approx. 400 ICBMs^[7]
Part of	United States Armed Forces^[8] Department of the Air Force
Headquarters	The Pentagon Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Mottos	"Aim High ... Fly-Fight-Win"^[9] "Integrity first, Service before self, Excellence in all we do"^[10]
Colors	Ultramarine blue, Golden yellow^[11]
March	"The U.S. Air Force" Play^ⓘ
Anniversaries	18 September^[12]
Equipment	List of equipment of the United States Air Force
Engagements	See list Mexican Expedition (As Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps) World War I (As Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps and Army Air Service) World War II (As USAAF) Korean War Lebanon Crisis Second Taiwan Strait Crisis Quemoy and Matsu Islands Vietnam Assistance Congo Crisis Berlin Crisis Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Cuban Missile Crisis Congo – Operation Dragon Rouge Dominican Civil War – Operation Power Pack Korean DMZ Conflict Cambodian Campaign Communist insurgency in Thailand Cambodia – Operation Eagle Pull Vietnam – Operation Frequent Wind Mayaguez Operation Grenada – Operation Urgent Fury Lebanese Civil War Persian Gulf – Operation Earnest Will Libya – Operation El Dorado Canyon Panama – Operation Just Cause Southwest Asia Conflict Somali Civil War Haiti – Operation Uphold Democracy Kosovo Campaign Afghanistan Campaign Global War on Terrorism Iraq Campaign Operation Inherent Resolve^[13] Iran-Israel War
Website	af.mil airforce.com
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	President Donald Trump
Secretary of Defense	Pete Hegseth
Secretary of the Air Force	Troy Meink
Chief of Staff	Gen Kenneth S. Wilsbach
Vice Chief of Staff	Gen John D. Lamontagne
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force	CMSAF David R. Wolfe
Insignia
Flag
Roundel
Hap Arnold Wings^[14]
Aircraft flown
Attack	A-10, A-29, AC-130J, MQ-9A, OA-1K
Bomber	B-1B, B-2A, B-52H
Electronic warfare	E-3B/C/G, E-4B, E-9A, E-11A, EA-37B, EC-130H, EC-130J
Fighter	F-15C/D, F-15E, F-15EX, F-16C/D/CG/DG/CJ/DJ, F-22A, F-35A
Helicopter	HH-60G/U/W, MH-139, UH-1N
Reconnaissance	RC-135S/U/V/W, RQ-4B, RQ-11, RQ-170, RQ-180, RQ-20, U-2S, U-28, WC-130J, WC-135C/W
Trainer	T-1A, T-6A, T-38A/B/C, T-41D, T-51A, T-53A, TC-135W, TG-15A, TG-15B, TG-16, TH-1H, TU-2S
Transport	C-5M, C-12C/D/F/J, C-17A, CN-235, C-21A, C-32A/B, C-37A, C-37B, C-40B/C, C-130H, C-130J, HC-130J/N/P, LC-130H, MC-130H/J, C-146A, VC-25A, CV-22B
Tanker	KC-46A, KC-135R/T, HC-130, MC-130
QF-16 (target drone)