Today in history, on September 18, 1947, the US Air Force was born as its own branch of the Armed Forces. This significant event was a direct result of the transformative role air power played in World War II. In contrast to its primarily supportive role in World War I, air power in World War II became a game-changer, with strategic bombings, airlifts, and control of the skies proving crucial to victory. The evolution of air power necessitated the establishment of a separate military branch.

On July 26, 1947, President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 into law. It officially established the Air Force as its own branch with equal status to the Army and Navy, giving it its own budget and organizational structure. The act also established the National Military Establishment, which was later renamed the Department of Defense. This establishment was a significant step in the reorganization of the US military, and it fundamentally rebuilt the security and military structure of the United States.

While the Air Force was officially established in 1947, its roots stretch back to 1907 with the creation of the Aeronautical Division of the US Army Signal Corps. This division, initially responsible for military balloons, received its first flying machine from the Wright Brothers in 1909. Over time, as technology advanced, the Aeronautical Division evolved and eventually became the independent Air Force we know today.