United States Air Force Collection

Smoke and dust billow upward during a successful attack by United States Army Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses, after five minutes of concentrated bombing on Toulon harbour

Army Aviation, College Park Aviation Field, 2nd Season - Lt. H. Geiger, Lt. T. Dew. Milling, 1912. [Early aviation pioneers, Maryland, USA

Bush hat worn by United States Air Force pilot, Vietnam War, 1960s. Creator: Unknown
Bush hat worn by United States Air Force pilot, Vietnam War, 1960s. A non-regulation Australian style bush hat worn by members of the United States Air Force serving in Thailand during the Vietnam

On the night of 29th - 30th April 1944, RAF Bombers attacked the Clermont Ferrand/Aulnat Airfield in German occupied France

British troops exercise in Estonia as part of the NATOs eFP (Enhanced Forward Presence)
Pictured are British Troops embarking on United States Air force Chinooks during an exercise held in Estonia. JTAC operators from the Royal Artillery

Flying gloves, United States Air Force Thunderbirds, 2006-2007. Creator: Unknown
Flying gloves, United States Air Force Thunderbirds, 2006-2007. Gloves worn by members of the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force

Streaking across the German sky, American B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the US Eighth Army Air Force leave vapour trails high above the clouds as they head for their target

Aerial view of Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft and gliders of the 9th Troop Carrier Command, a unit of the Ninth US Air Force

This synthetic oil plant at Bottrop, west of Gelsenkirchen, Germany, produced 100, 000 barrels of oil per month for the German war machine before it was wrecked from the air

Liberators and Flying Fortresses of the US Eighth Air Force struck at the source of the Luftwaffe during Mondays daylight operations, the 21st so far this month

The Gnome and Rhone aircraft factories at Limoges in German occupied France, which not only manufactures air engines for the Luftwaffe

World War II era planes fly over U. S. flag during ceremony to commemorate the 70th
World War II era planes fly over a U.S. flag during a ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day in Washington May 8, 2015. REUTERS/Jim Bourg TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

USA, Virginia, Arlington, National Air Force Memorial

Proposed USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory, 1960. Creator: NASA
Proposed USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory, 1960. Concept image of the United States Air Forces proposed Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL)

North American X-15, 1959. Creator: North American Aviation Inc
Worlds Fastest Piloted Aircraft. Piloted by Neil Armstrong. Bridged the gap between human flight in the atmosphere and spaceflight

Flying suit, USAF Thunderbirds, 2006-2007. Creator: Gibson & Barnes
Flying suit, USAF Thunderbirds, 2006-2007. Suit worn by Nicole Malachowski of the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force

Aero Club of America Aviation Medal of Merit awarded to Captain St. Clair Streett, 1920. Obverse: relief of an eagle flying over the globe

Missile, Cruise, Air-launched, AGM-86B, 1982. Creator: Boeing Aircraft Co
This is the AGM-86B, the second version of the U.S. Air Forces air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) and built by Boeing. Launched from B-52 bombers, the missile had a nuclear warhead

Pilot check list, United States Air Force Thunderbirds, 2006-2007. Creator: Unknown
Pilot check list, United States Air Force Thunderbirds, 2006-2007. Check list used by pilots of the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Thunderbirds

Military Jet Zooming into the Sky, 1948 (colour litho)
2630065 Military Jet Zooming into the Sky, 1948 (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; Photo eGraphicaArtis; American, out of copyright

Flying nurses of the United States Army Air Force (USaF) 9th Troop Carrier Command who are specially picked and trained. Their Job is to fly to the forward areas

Proudly caressing his bomb sight after bombing the rail centre at Stendal, Germany, is Major Charles Hudson of Bakersfield, California

Flying Fortress bombers of the US 8th Air Force travelling towards a German air service and assembly plant at Villacoublay, France, near Paris. March 1944

German ground defences threw up an intense barrage of flak over their capitals in an attempt to fight off attacking B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberator bombers of the 8th US Air Force

An American bomber of the United States Army Force involved in an aerial battle over Germany during the Second World War, as indicated by the long ghost-like smoke trails in the sky. November 1943

Aerial view showing damage caused to the the Luftwaffe fighter and bomber base at Leeuwarden, Holland after an attack by B-26 Marauder medium bombers of the US Ninth Air Force on 24th February 1944

Owing to peculiar air conditions and mechanical difficulties, the B-24 Liberator bomber " Golden Gaboon", piloted by let Lieutenant Wilbur T

Flying nurses of the United States Army Air Force (USaF) 9th Troop Carrier Command who are specially picked and trained. Their Job is to fly to the forward areas

Essential supplies for Allied forces fighting in the Salerno area of Southern Italy are flown to their destination by an American transport plane. Below is the town of Belvedere, Italy

B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the United States Army Eighth Air Force sent their bombs plummeting through clouds on to the important railway marshalling yards at Mainz during a daylight attack

The Allied invasion of southern France during the Second World War. Parachutes fill the sky over the coast of Southern France after Douglas C-47 Skytrain carriers of the United States Army 12th Air

In a flower covered field in France, an American Waco CG-4 glider takes off for the first time on foreign territory since the D-Day landings

Nine survivors of a blazing American Superfortress plane which crashed in the Indian Ocean have been recovering in hospital in Calcutta after rescue by two RAF Catalina flying boats

A Messerschmitt 110 goes down in flaming pieces before the massed fire power of the Flying Fortresses of the American Eighth Air Force in their attack on the ball-bearing factory at Schweinfurt

Russian Air Force visitors refer to an air chart for a discussion of air tactics and strategy. Col. Maurice A. Preston explains American methods to Col. S. Borisenko, Maj. T. Samarin, Maj. Gen

Members of the Russian Air Force inside a operations room of the bomber base. Col. Maurice A. Preston explains details of a bomb sight to Maj. Gen. A. Sharapov. December 1944

Col. Maurice A. Preston, Combat Wing Commander, explains the operations of a B-17 Flying Fortress ball turret to Russian Air Chiefs. Left to right: Lt. Col. N. Roudoi, Russian Air Force Liaison, Maj

All the large cooling towers at the at the Bohlen Synthetic Oil plan near Leipzig were partially destroyed, loading sheds and distillation plant considerably damage

Twenty three buildings and installations at the Marseburg Synthetic Oil plant, 20 miles west of Leipzig were damaged during the attack by the US 8th Air Force heavy bombers on the 20th July 1944

Cutting the neck. Heavy high explosive concentration of bombs, dropped by the US 8th Air Forces Third Division cuts across the choke point where the rails narrow to funnel over the rail over canal

Bombs on Bergen. Striking at German supply lines just behind the battle lines. US 8th Air Force bombers attack rail marshalling yards at Bergen, Germany

Raid by heavy bombers of the American Eighth Air Force on two important targets in the German occupied town of Brest, Brittany in Western France

As a result of a sustained bombing campaign by the US Tenth Air Force against Japanese rail communications in Burma the enemy has been forced to depend more

Dense smoke with a flaming centre is seen rising from the gas plant at Zietz following an attack by Liberator heavy bombers of the US 8th Air Force. Circa June 1944

A German bomber on a Brandenburg airfield being strafed by Captain Nicolas Magura in his P51 Mustang fighter of the 8th Air Force during a fighter sweep of Germany. 24th June 1944

Direct hits from the US 8th Air Force heavy bombers on every building of the Waggun ME-110 assembly plant at Brunswick, Germany. Smoke and fire blanket the target. 11th January 1944

Aerial reconnaissance photograph of the Alfred Teves aerospace component factory at Frankfurt following night attacks by RAF Bomber Command on the nights of 18th/19th March and 22nd/23rd March

On Sunday 20th February 1944 the US 8th Air Force despatched 2000 heavy bombers to attack enemy aircraft factories at Leipzig, Brunswick, Bernburg and military targets at Gotha

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"From the smoke and dust of successful attacks to the skies of secrecy, the United States Air Force has always been at the forefront of aviation innovation. The Lockheed U-2 spy aircraft, soaring through the 1950s, showcased their commitment to gathering crucial intelligence from above. In the heat of Vietnam War, a pilot donned a bush hat as they bravely took to the skies. Their dedication and courage exemplified by this unknown creator's creation. Aerial views captured Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft and gliders in action during troop carrier missions. These images paint a picture of precision and coordination that defined the 9th Troop Carrier. During World War II, Liberators and Flying Fortresses unleashed their might upon enemy strongholds under command of the US Eighth Air Force. They struck fear into hearts while protecting freedom from above. The night sky witnessed RAF Bombers attacking Clermont on April 29th - 30th, 1944. This event serves as a reminder of international collaboration towards victory against tyranny. Seventy years later, planes from WWII era flew over our proud flag during a ceremony commemorating their valiant efforts. It was an awe-inspiring sight that honored those who served with bravery and sacrifice. At Arlington's National Air Force Memorial in Virginia stands tall a tribute to all who have served in this distinguished branch. A symbol of respect for those who have defended our skies throughout history. Dreams soared high with NASA's proposed USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory in 1960 – showcasing America's ambition beyond Earth's atmosphere. A testament to human ingenuity reaching new heights together. Lockheed XP-80 "Lulu Belle, " born in 1943 by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, marked another milestone for American aviation prowess – pushing boundaries further than ever before. The North American X-15 captivated imaginations in 1959 with its supersonic speed capabilities – proving that the sky was not the limit for the United States Air Force.