The Greatest Air Force in the World Published Sept. 18, 2017 By Col. Patrick Campbell 94th Operations Group Times are a lot different since I enlisted. Our aircraft, technology, adversaries and the threats to our nation are different; however, some things remain the same: the grit, determination and motivation of today’s Airmen to serve their country and fellow Americans. On September 18, 1947, the Air Force was born. The first Secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington, was sworn-in and that was the creation of what is now the greatest Air Force in the world. For 70 years, the Air Force has been breaking barriers. The Air Force was not the first to use aircraft in combat. That is credited to the Italians, in 1911. However, today, the United States has the most technologically advanced Air Force in the world. We were not the first to drop a bomb from an aircraft. That also is credited to the Italians in 1911, but there were legions of bombers, including those from the U.S that defeated the Nazis and Japanese in World War II. The U.S. Air Force was not the first to fly jet aircraft. The Germans tested and deployed a jet aircraft in World War II. But shortly after the war, on October 14, 1947, U.S. Air Force Capt. Chuck Yeager became the first human to fly faster than the speed of sound in the Bell X-1 aircraft. We were not the first to launch a satellite in space. That was accomplished by Russia in 1955. However, today, the U.S. Air Force employs a constellation of satellites and GPS systems around the globe. We were not the first to put a human in orbit. Again, that was Russia in 1961. But through the U.S. Air Force Man-In-Space Soonest program, Neal Armstrong became the first man on the moon. Although Turkey was the first to have a female combat pilot in 1913, there are scores of women serving next to their brethren as combat and transportation pilots; they are veterans and are among the highest in leadership in the U.S. Air Force. The U.S. Air Force was not the first to break the race barrier, but today our Airmen are from the most diverse backgrounds and cultures. As you can see, our Air Force may not have been the first, but we certainly are the best. We answer the call of our nation, whether it’s war or humanitarian relief. Since the end of World War II, our ground forces have not been threatened by enemy air because we have kept the skies free and maintained air superiority. But not all battles require an enemy. During the Berlin Airlift, our aircraft transported 2.4 million tons of food and supplies to East Germany. We provided earthquake, hurricane and tsunami relief, and have performed non-combatant evacuation operations when needed. There are many reasons why we serve. Staff Sgt. Esther Blake, after her eldest son was shot down while flying a B-17 and reported missing during World War II, became the first woman to enlist in the U.S. Air Force after serving four years in the Women’s Army Corps. Blake wanted to free male soldiers from doing desk jobs so they could go into combat and bring her sons home faster. Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro, a tactical air control party specialist, suffered severe burns to 80 percent of his body. He became the first Airman to re-enlist after becoming eligible for a medical retirement. After receiving the Pat Tillman Award for Service and thanking his teammates, his nurses and his family for their support, he said with characteristic humility and humor, "Thank you for letting this guy who just had a bad day at work feel like someone special tonight." Lt. Gen. Stayce Harris, assistant vice chief of staff and director, Air Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, grew up in an Air Force family. Her father, who retired as a technical sergeant, served as an inspiration for her. In an interview, she mentioned, “I just wanted to be just like my dad, not that I knew what he did.” None of us woke up this morning to accomplish some outstanding feat, we just came to work today to do our jobs, to serve. Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, the first to be appointed General of the Air Force, a five-star rank, said, “Our Air Force belongs to those who come from ranks of labor, management, the farms, the stores, the professions and colleges and legislative halls… Air Power will always be the business of every American Citizen” Aim High Airmen! Col. Patrick Campbell served as keynote speaker at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce First Monday Breakfast, Sept. 11, 2017.
