U.S. Air Force airpower has been a major element of our nation's defense dating back to the earliest days of the Army Air Corps. The Air Force became an independent military branch when President Harry S Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947. The Air Force’s airpower currently includes the following aircraft:
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![An F-15C fighter jet heads to the skies](http://images01.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_large/public/2025-02/trib-F-15C-fighter-jet-1200.jpg?itok=_HpaUniW "An F-15C fighter jet heads to the skies in November 2024 before the start of a ribbon-cutting for the "Minuteman Gate," the new main entrance to the Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield. (Don Treeger/The Republican)")
