Every Day Is Special: September 18

September 18 – Air Force Birthday

Posted on September 18, 2013

This summer I was passing through Colorado Springs, Colorado, and I decided to pop into the nearby Air Force Academy. I was impressed watching the cadets drilling in the yard. I loved the soaring, jet-like design of the Cadet Chapel. And I literally choked up while looking at photos and reading stories of inspiration and honor and perseverance in the museum.

Look how beautiful the Cadet Chapel is -- outside and in!

The U.S. Air Force is the youngest branch of the military forces in the United States. It began on this date in 1947.

You probably know that the first successful airplane flight was in 1903, and that airplanes were important in World Wars I and II—both of which were fought before the start date of the U.S. Air Force in 1947. So...does that mean that the United States didn't have air forces in the early 1900s?

As I'm sure you've guessed, the answer is that OF COURSE the U.S. military had airplanes and pilots, starting in 1909. Although there wasn't a separate air force branch, the army had an Aeronautical Section, Signal Corps, Aviation Section, U.S. Army Air Service, U.S. Army Air Corps, and U.S. Army Air Forces...

And then, finally, the nation decided that airpower was so important to the military, it had to have its own branch of the military.

By the way...

While the separate branch called the Air Force broke off from the Army, there are pilots and planes as a part of three other branches in the armed forces: the Navy, the Marines, and the Coast Guard. So, if you want to go to flight school and be a pilot while serving in the military, you've got several branches to pick from!

Check out this National Museum of the US Air Force online feature: Discovery Hangar for Kids! There are a couple of interactive resources, word searches, coloring pages, and more.

Also, the Ohio museum is having a Home School Day on October 7, 2013!

Also on this date: