Birth of the United States Army Air Force.

Hi Reader, welcome back to our weekly coverage of what happened in the skies and on the ground during World War II. This week, we mark the birth of the United States Army Air Force and honor America's final triple Ace of WWII. Join us as we delve into the history of one of the most pivotal conflicts ever and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The United States Army Air Forces Is Established

On June 20, 1941, just months before America would enter the Second World War, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was officially established. Formed as the direct successor to the United States Army Air Corps (AAC), the USAAF became the primary aerial warfare branch of the U.S. Army throughout World War II and laid the foundation for what would later become the modern United States Air Force.

The origins of American military aviation trace back to the post–World War I era. Following the war’s introduction of air combat, the U.S. created the Army Air Service, later reorganized as the Army Air Corps in 1926. However, the AAC faced years of bureaucratic resistance. Military leaders were divided; some saw airpower solely as a support tool for ground operations, while others pushed for an independent air arm. In an attempt to satisfy both sides, the Army developed the General Headquarters Air Force (GHQAF) in 1935 to command combat units separately from the Air Corps, while still keeping both firmly under Army control.

As tensions escalated in Europe in the late 1930s, the shortcomings of this divided structure became clear. The success of Germany’s Luftwaffe and Britain’s Royal Air Force during the early years of World War II underscored the need for a unified and modernized American air force. With the U.S. anticipating possible involvement in the conflict, the War Department moved to overhaul its air arm. On June 20, 1941, the United States Army Air Forces was created, bringing the Air Corps and GHQAF under a single unified command. General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, a decorated World War I pilot and key advocate for airpower, was appointed to lead the new force.

The attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 thrust the United States into war, and with it, the USAAF underwent rapid and unprecedented expansion. In February 1942, the USAAF was granted full autonomy within the War Department, mirroring the operational independence of the Marine Corps under the Navy. General Arnold was elevated to the position of Commanding General of the Army Air Forces and given a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, making the USAAF equal in status to the Army and Navy branches. The outdated Air Corps was fully absorbed, and the USAAF now had direct control over all strategic planning, logistics, and combat operations in the air.

Under this new structure, the air arm grew at lightning speed. President Roosevelt authorized the formation of 84 combat groups by mid-1942, with a force of 7,800 aircraft and 400,000 personnel. The USAAF quickly became a cornerstone of American strategy, conducting strategic bombing campaigns in Europe and the Pacific, supporting ground operations, and playing a decisive role in securing Allied victory.

By the end of the war, the USAAF had become one of the most powerful air forces in the world. At its peak, it boasted over 2.4 million men and women in uniform, nearly 80,000 aircraft by 1944, and more than 780 bases across the United States. Overseas, the USAAF operated from more than 1,600 airfields worldwide, with 1.25 million personnel deployed across multiple theaters of war.

The success and scale of the USAAF during World War II made clear that airpower had become a permanent and central component of modern warfare. In 1947, just two years after the end of the war, the USAAF was formally separated from the Army and became its own independent service, the United States Air Force. What began as a fragmented collection of support units had, by the end of the war, evolved into a dominant global air force.

Honoring An American Triple Ace

This week, we remember Clarence “Bud” Anderson—America’s last living triple ace of World War II—who passed away on May 17, 2024, at the age of 102. It has been over a year since his passing and another year since we last honored him. Today, we reflect once more on his extraordinary life and enduring legacy, especially as the number of living WWII veterans continues to dwindle.

Up until his passing, Bud Anderson was the highest-scoring living American ace of the war, credited with 16 confirmed aerial victories in his beloved P-51 Mustang, “Old Crow.”

Born in Oakland, California, in 1922, Anderson began his military career at just 19, enlisting as an aviation cadet shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. By September 1942, he had earned his wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He deployed to England in late 1943 with the 357th Fighter Group, where he began flying bomber escort missions into enemy territory.

Anderson scored his first victory in March 1944, shooting down a German Bf 109 over Berlin while defending a formation of B-17s. Just a few months later, he had achieved ace status. By the end of his third combat tour, Anderson had completed 116 missions without ever being hit by enemy aircraft or forced to turn back. At just 22 years old, he held the rank of major—an achievement that spoke to his skill, leadership, and courage.

After the war, Anderson continued to serve with distinction. From 1948 to 1953, he worked as a test pilot, further advancing aviation during the dawn of the jet age. He went on to hold several key leadership roles throughout the Cold War, including Director of Operations for the 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing in Korea, Commander of the 69th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, and later the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing during the Vietnam War. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1972 with the rank of colonel after 25 years of service.

Even in retirement, Anderson’s passion for aviation never faded. He managed flight testing at McDonnell Aircraft for more than a decade and remained active in the aviation community well into his 90s. He shared his knowledge through interviews, lectures, aviation publications, and flight simulators, always eager to pass on what he had learned.

Anderson received countless honors in his lifetime. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008 and the International Air & Space Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2015, he received the Congressional Gold Medal alongside fellow American fighter aces. His lifetime of achievements was further recognized with awards from the Air Force Association and the EAA Warbirds of America Hall of Fame.

Clarence Anderson's life represents the very best of what the Greatest Generation stood for: courage, service, humility, and excellence. As we mark more than a year since his passing and 80 years since the closing chapters of WWII, we are reminded that these stories are becoming fewer. His legacy, however, lives on in every aviator who looks to the skies with purpose and honor.

Did You Know?

The P-51 Mustang became a famous and very effective fighter plane, but the training for its pilots during World War II was surprisingly quick. Because so many pilots were urgently needed, the entire training program, from beginning to advanced stages, was significantly shortened. This meant many pilots learned to fly powerful planes like the Mustang with much less flight time than pilots before the war, showing how quickly things had to happen in wartime.

Thank you for tuning in to this week's coverage of what happened on the ground and the skies during World War II. We hope to see you again next week for even more incredible true stories. And as always, see you in the skies.

-TJ

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