United States Air Force Photos And Wallpapers

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947.^[1] It is the most recent branch of the U.S. military to be formed, and is one of the most technologically sophisticated air forces. The USAF articulates its core functions in its 2010 Posture Statement as Nuclear Deterrence Operations, Special Operations, Air Superiority, Global Integrated ISR,Space Superiority, Command and Control, Cyberspace Superiority, Personnel Recovery, Global Precision Attack, Building Partnerships, Rapid Global Mobility and Agile Combat Support.^[4]

As of 2009 the USAF operates 5,573 manned aircraft in service (3,990 USAF; 1,213 Air National Guard; and 370 Air Force Reserve);^[5] approximately 180 unmanned combat air vehicles, 2,130 air-launched cruise missiles,^[6] and 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles. The USAF has 330,159 personnel on active duty, 68,872 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 94,753 in the Air National Guard as of September 2008. In addition, the USAF employs 151,360 civilian personnel,^[7] and has over 60,000 auxiliary members in the Civil Air Patrol,^[8] making it the largest air force in the world.

The Department of the Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force, who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, and has the authority to conduct all of its affairs, subject to the authority, direction and control of the Secretary of Defense. The Department of the Air Force is a Military Department within the Department of Defense, and it includes all elements of the United States Air Force, i.e. the technical designation of the U.S. Air Force organization. The highest ranking military officer in the Department of the Air Force is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force who exercises supervision over Air Force units, and serves as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Air Force combat forces are assigned, as directed by the Secretary of Defense, to the Combatant Commanders, and neither the Secretary of the Air Force nor the Chief of Staff have operational command authority over them.

The core values of the Air Force are: 1) Integrity First; 2) Service Before Self; and 3) Excellence In All We Do.

Roundels that have appeared on US aircraft

USAF members training at Lackland AFB

VC-25A (Air Force One).

The SR-71 Blackbird was a Cold War reconnaissance plane.

Senior Airman Nayibe Ramos runs through a checklist during Global Positioning System satellite operations. The operations center here controls a constellation of 29 orbiting satellites that provides navigation data to military and civilian users worldwide. Airman Ramos is a satellite system operator for the 2d Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colorado.

Several aircraft in a squadron at Hurlburt Field

A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft.

B-1 Lancer supersonic strategic bomber.

B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bomber.

CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

F-15E Strike Eagle strike fighter

The F-117 Nighthawk was a stealthattack aircraft (retired from service on 22 April 2008).

MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle.

KC-10 Extender tri-jet air-to-air tanker.

F-22 Raptor stealth air superiority fighter

Pararescuemen and a simulated "survivor" watch as an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter comes in for a landing.

C-5 Galaxy heavy airlift.

RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle reconnaissance aircraft.

Lockheed U-2 spy plane.