United States Air Force

The United States Air Force, often shortened to Air Force or USAF, was a branch of the United States Armed Forces.Inventory transfer orderUSAF Satellite Station Olivia terminals; Guard terminal, Check-in LogFort Atlas terminal entries; Scribe Valdez's terminal, Progress Report
==Background==
:Main article: Pre-Divergence military history of the United States, Post-Divergence history
The youngest branch of the military dates back to 1907 and the foundation of the Aeronautical Division of the Signal Corps. Although it had a turbulent organizational history, it became one of the most important assets of the American war machine, particularly during World War II, when military aviation was a crucial asset in defeating the Empire of Japan and the Third Reich. Officially founded in 1947,United States Air Force on Wikipedia the Air Force was instrumental in pioneering manned spaceflight and the militarization of space, with the pioneering flight of Defiance 7 on May 5, 1961, when Captain Carl Bell became the first human in space. However, the claim was widely disputed by the Soviet Union and China.Fallout 3 message box transcriptions; Captain Carl Bell, skeleton: "This is the actual skeleton of Captain Carl Bell who died on May 5, 1961 after his Space Capsule crash landed. Captain Bell is credited as being the first human in space on board the Space Capsule Defiance 7, but this has been constantly refuted by both the Soviet Union and China. Defiance 7's flight lasted for a total of 12 minutes and 7 seconds as it achieved one full revolution around the Earth. Donated by Edwina Bell." Subsequent manned spaceflight tests perfected the technology, despite setbacks such as the loss of Clarabella 7 and Colonel Hartigan to high-altitude weather balloons (the body was never recovered, as the capsule was actually intercepted by Zetan aliens researching the human population).Alien captive recorded log 8Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.66: "Colonel Hartigan (deceased)Hartigan was returning from a low-orbit mission in his capsule Clarabella 7, but he never made it back to its ocean splashdown rendezvous point. The mystery was soon covered up by the U.S. government and the United States Space Administration, who claimed the craft crash-landed after becoming entangled in high-altitude weather balloons. Hartigan himself soon made first contact with the Aliens and attempted to calmly explain his mission. His screams can still be heard echoing through a Recorded Log on the ship. He was placed in cryogenic stasis pod, but complications and pod malfunctions, plus the stress he endured during his Alien encounters, caused the colonel to expire. His Spacesuit is still useful, however."(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census)
By the end of the 1960s, the United States had achieved victory in the space race, as the Virgo II lunar lander touched down on the surface of Earth's moon on July 16, 1969.Museum of Freedom mural's Sea of Tranquility Valiant 11 mission members Captain Richard Wade, Captain Mark Garris, and Captain Michael Hagen became the first humans to walk on the surface of another celestial body.Fallout 3 message box transcriptions; Virgo II Lunar Lander: "On July 16, 1969, the Virgo II Lunar Lander "Valiant 11" became the very first manned space vehicle to touch down on the moon. The Valiant 11's crew consisted of Captain Richard Wade, Captain Mark Garris and Captain Michael Hagen of the USSA. We salute these brave and noble men who took the very first steps on a planetary body other than our own." As time went on, the gradual exhaustion of resources became more of a pressing issue, and space exploration programs would fold. The last moon mission took place in 2052 and former spacecraft such as the Delta IX rocket were subsequently fitted with military ordnance.Museum of Technology terminal entries; Delta IX Rocket, Delta IX Rocket InformationThe Courier: "REPCONN's history."Tour guide: " The company really took off when RobCo purchased REPCONN in late 2076 to develop unmanned rockets to explore the solar system."(Tour guide's dialogue)Fallout 3 message box transcriptions; Valiant 12 flag: "This unusual flag was recovered from the surface of the moon by the very last manned flight to its surface in 2052. The flag is from the old "Valiant 12" Virgo III Lunar Lander that touched down November 14, 1969. It's remarkable condition can be attributed due to its construction; the flag is actually made of special materials to withstand the harsh environment of space." 
===21st century===
The history of the Air Force is closely intertwined with the general history of the Armed Forces. Together with the Army and the Navy, the Air Force was responsible for maintaining the nuclear arsenal of the United States through the Strategic Air Command, as well as aerial warfare in the numerous resource conflicts the United States was involved in. This included including the United States invasion of Mexico in 2052,Fallout Bible 0; Timeline repair: Second strike the Sino-American War (2066–2077), and the United States annexation of Canada.
==Technology==
Personal equipment for Air Force members usually consisted of rugged, reliable equipment like the standard flight suits and combat armor. Additionally, remnants of Air Force uniforms can be seen worn over Vault 34 jumpsuits by the Boomers at Nellis Air Force Base.
Some standard fighter planes of the Air Force at the time of the Great War were the fighter jet and the Stingray Deluxe. It is known that the Air Force operated nuclear-armed bomber planes,The Sole Survivor: "What's Prime armed with?"Proctor Ingram: ""(Proctor Ingram's dialogue) but no surviving models have been found in the wasteland.
To support its operations, the Air Force operated air force bases throughout the nation. One of the most important was Adams Air Force Base, linked directly to the White House and the Capitol Building by metro. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was also a major staging area for Air Force operations, including their nuclear bombers outfitted with Mark 28 nuclear bombs,Sole Survivor: "I wish I could."Ingram: " "(Proctor Ingram's dialogue) and satellite surveillance, as was the case with USAF Satellite Station Olivia.
The USAF was entrusted with the care and maintenance of the nation's nuclear arsenal, able to launch them at a moment's notice once DEFCON 1 was declared. Various technologies were used to streamline launches, such as the USAF One-Touch Command SysOps, allowing launches with a single command,Fort Constantine terminal entries, Launch control terminal or the pilot Appalachian Automated Launch System, which experimented with automating missile construction, launch preparation, and launching.Fujiniya Intelligence Base terminal entries; security terminal, 0.0.2.8
==Equipment==
===Armor and uniforms===
===Aircraft===
* B-24 Liberator
* B-29 Superfortress
* F-4 PhantomBased on the real-world name of the aircraft, name not stated within the TV series.
* P-51 Mustang
* PT-00D biplane
* Fighter jet
* Stingray Deluxe
* Unnamed nuclear bombers
* Vertibird
===Spacecraft===
===Ordnance===
* Mark 28 nuclear bombs
* Intercontinental ballistic missiles
===Personal weapons===
* R91 assault rifle
==Named personnel==
==Gallery==
===Insignia===
Us army air corps shield.svg|Army Air Corps roundelBoomer flightsuit
Roundel of the USAF.svg|United States Air Force roundelFighter jet from Fallout 3, B-29 from Fallout: New Vegas, and PT-00D biplane from Fallout 76
FO76 Nuclear msl nif.png|Nuclear missile in Fallout 76
Fo3BS Adams Sigil.png|Air Force sigil at Adams AFB
===Aircraft===
Stingray-deluxe.png|Stingray Deluxe
Fighter jet.png|Lockreed fighter jet
===Historic aircraft===
Mustang.png|P-51 Mustang
FO4 Intro slide 4.jpg|B-24 Liberators in formation
FNV B29 Restored.png|B-29
===Other===
FNV loading bulletinboard09.jpg
FO76 Blackbird power armor paint.png|Blackbird paint scheme on X-01 power armor
Fo3BS Adams Sigil.png|Air Force sigil at Adams Air Force Base
FO76 Biplane logo nifskope.png|On biplanes in Appalachia
Stingray-deluxe.png|Stingray Deluxe
Fighter jet.png|Lockreed fighter jet
Mustang.png|P-51 Mustang
FO4 Intro slide 4.jpg|B-24 Liberators in formation
FNV B29 Restored.png|B-29
FNV loading bulletinboard09.jpg
FO3 Adams AFB nifskope sign.png
==References==
Non-game
 
fr:United States Air Forces