Air Force History
Birthday of the Department of the Air Force
What does SAC stand for?
Strategic Air Command
What does ROTC stand for?
Reserve Officer Training Corps
What bomber did SAC use extensively during the Cold War for strategic deterrence?
B-52 Stratofortress
What major operation marked the Air Force’s first significant Cold War intervention?
Berlin Airlift
Who was the first Chief of Staff of the USAF?
Gen. Carl A. Spaatz
What command was responsible for defending U.S. airspace during the Cold War?
Air Defense Command (ADC)
This is the name of the weekly leadership and training session where cadets wear uniforms, practice drill, and receive briefings.
Leadership Lab
What missile system did the Air Force begin deploying in 1959 to supplement its bomber fleet?
ICBM - Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
By the end of the 1960s, the Air Force possessed two legs of the Nuclear strategic “Triad.” What were they?
Bombers and land-based missiles
What major airlift operation did the Air Force conduct during 1948–1949?
The Berlin Airlift
What command was often overlooked during the 1950s despite the development of tactical nuclear weapons?
Tactical Air Command (TAC)
What year was AF ROTC established at Purdue?
1949
Who was the Air Force general credited with leading the development of ballistic missile systems in the 1950s?
Major General Bernard A. Schriever
Which command became the centerpiece of Air Force strategic planning during the early Cold War?
Strategic Air Command - SAC
Who was the first Secretary of the Air Force, appointed in 1947?
W. Stuart Symington
Who is the only Air Force officer to hold the five-star rank in both the Air Force and Army?
Air Force Gen. Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold
What is the name of the leadership development course ROTC cadets attend between sophomore and junior year?
Field Training
What does the P stand for in P-51 Mustang?
Pursuit
Who was the commander of SAC from 1948 to 1957, known for transforming it into a highly ready strategic force?
Curtis E. LeMay
Who is considered the "father" of the Air Force?
Army Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell
What command was often overlooked during the 1950s despite the development of tactical nuclear weapons?
Tactical Air Command
This is the name of the Air Force ROTC program that allows high school seniors to apply for scholarships covering tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend at participating colleges.
HSSP - High School Scholarship Program
Type of aircraft that carried the nuclear bomb of WW2
B-29 Superfortress
What event in 1949 prompted the United States to increase its focus on air defense capabilities?
The Soviet Union detonating its first atomic bomb