The U.S. Air Force provides air support for land and naval forces and aids in the recovery of troops in the field. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. Since then, American Airmen have been breaking barriers in air, space and cyberspace, resulting in global vigilance, reach and power. They’ve shown tenacity in Korea’s MiG Alley, endurance in Vietnam’s Rolling Thunder campaign, decisiveness over the skies of Baghdad during Desert Storm and resilience in Iraq and Afghanistan. Airmen are now fully engaged as part of America’s Joint Force in every region of the world and every mission area across the full spectrum of military operations. Airmen span the globe and Airpower has become the “oxygen the joint team breathes.”

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 1: Bataan Death March
2014
During the Bataan Death March, more than 76,000 American and Filipino prisoners were marched through the sweltering heat of the Philippine jungle with…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 2: Cornfield Bomber
2014
An Air Force history feature about a one-in-a-million occurrence that happened in 1970, when an Air Force jet flew, and landed, without a pilot.

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 3: Satellite
2014
The Space Race between the United States and the USSR spurred countless innovations in science and technology. And while we take these advancements for…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 5: The President’s Pilot On 9-11
2014
America was under attack, and the President was hundreds of miles away. The pilot and crew of Air Force One made sure the President stayed safe and got…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 4: Space Jump
2014
As jets flew higher and faster in the 1950s, the Air Force became increasingly worried about the safety of crews who had to eject at high altitude. Joe…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 6: Boneyard
2014
Where do America's aircraft go after they've flown their last mission? Since the end of WWII, the answer to that question has been Arizona. Watch as we…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 7: The Berlin Airlift
2014
Our modern Air Force was barely a year old, and it was already being asked turn an impossible task into a core capability.

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 8: B-26
2015
Get to know one of the Air Force's most infamous bombers, the B-26! It has a storied history and proved to be so useful that the Air Force modified it…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 9: 1909 Wright Flyer
2015
Two American bicycle shop owners accomplished something the world's greatest minds had been working on for centuries - powered flight - and it only took…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 10: B-36
2015
After WWII the threat of nuclear weapons was felt by every man, woman, and child in the country. America knew it needed a platform to help deter a nuclear…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 11: Betty Blake
2015
Betty 'Tack' Blake was a member of the first WASP graduating class during World War II.

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 12: Eddie Rickenbacker
2015
Eddie Rickenbacker. Racecar Driver. WWI Ace of Aces. Aviation Pioneer. Medal of Honor recipient. Learn about one of the Air Force’s early legends, and…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 13: FIFI
2015
The B-29 is known for dropping the bomb that ended WWII, but these workhorses did more than those last two missions. Today we introduce you to the last…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 14: FlakBait
2015
During WWI B-26s dropped thousands of bombs and one of those aircrafts survived more missions and dropped more bombs than any other... Meet Flak-Bait.

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 15: Golden Bear
2015
It's not unusual to see a static display on base, but why is it there? What historical significance does it have? All of these aircraft have a story and…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 16: HH-3E
2015
Getting stranded behind enemy-lines is a concern during every combat mission and one aircraft set the standard for combat search and rescue during the…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 17: Luxembourg
2015
On July 12th, 1944, two American B-17 bombers collided over the small town of Perle, Luxembourg. 71 years have passed and the event has changed the lives…

Yesterday’s Air Force – Episode 18: Reverse Lend Lease
2015
The logistics of war are complicated and having the right aircraft at the right place and time is a key to victory. At the beginning of U.S. involvement…