Misplaced Pages

#723276

80-712: The museum opened as the History and Traditions Museum in 1956 as one of 12 satellite museums to the National Museum of the United States Air Force . Museum construction began in 1956 inside a building that dates to 1942, and it opened to the public in February 1957. With the stated purpose of giving basic trainees "pride in the past", museum staff arranged exhibits in coordination with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base . They refurbished aircraft on static display to pay tribute to

160-620: A Liberty L-6 and L-12 and an Allison V-12 among others. The SR-71A "Blackbird" was put on static display in 1990 at the Parade Ground Airpark. In 2010 the museum reopened with a new name—the Airman Heritage Museum . The same year, Building 6351, a 1940s era barracks was moved to the museum. On February 11, 2013 the Lackland Gateway Heritage Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with

240-778: A B-24 bomber simulator, the Tuskegee Airmen exhibit, an original Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” bi-plane fuselage skeleton with OX-5 engine, an exhibit on the precursor to the Air Force, the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps , a display on the Women's Air Force , and more. Outdoors, the Airman Heritage Museum has over 40 aircraft on static display. Most of the Static Display Aerospace Vehicles are located at

320-668: A condemning memo to the Secretary of State for Air and to the Chief of the Air Staff dated 29 June 1941, Churchill stated he would no longer tolerate the shortcomings of the Royal Air Force (RAF), in which half a million RAF personnel had no combat role. He ordered that all airmen be armed and ready "to fight and die in defense of their air fields" and that every airfield should be a stronghold of fighting air-ground men and not "uniformed civilians in

400-622: A cost of $ 40.8 million (equivalent to $ 50.8 million in 2023 ). On 28 February 2024, a tornado touched down in the Riverside area in Montgomery County, Ohio. The museum was struck by the tornado causing damage. The base commander, Col. Travis Pond, said that "the damage was isolated to the southern side of Area B. Damaged buildings included the Museum’s Restoration Hangar 4, Gate 22B, and other nearby facilities." The museum

480-715: A laboratory building. In 1932, the collection was named the Army Aeronautical Museum and placed in a WPA building from 1935 until World War II. In 1948, the collection remained private as the Air Force Technical Museum. In 1954, the Air Force Museum became public and was housed in its first permanent facility, Building 89 of the former Patterson Field in Fairborn , which had been an engine overhaul hangar. Many of its aircraft were parked outside and exposed to

560-531: A light blue beret displaying a falcon as its emblem. Operation Safe Side developed into the 82nd Combat Security Police Wing, consisting of three "combat security police" squadrons, but was inactivated in December 1968, ending the unofficial use of the light blue beret. Elsewhere, during the Vietnam War, although not an authorized uniform item, some local security police commanders approved a dark blue beret similar to

640-406: A new stage, theater seats, and a new theater screen to support a broader range of programming—including educational presentations, live broadcasts and expanded documentary choices. It also included a 7.1 surround-sound system, audio devices for the hearing or visually impaired, and personal closed captioning systems. The Air Force Museum Foundation is a private, non-profit organization that supports

720-765: A part of the Army Air Forces, were still part of the Army's Military Police Corps . Their training was conducted at Camp Ripley . Air Base Security Battalions, the direct predecessors to the USAF Security Forces, were formed to be the ground combat force of the Army Air Forces, much like the RAF Regiment is for the Royal Air Force. The battalions operated machine guns, mortars, grenade launchers, rocket launchers, half-tracks, self-propelled guns, and even light tanks, with

800-701: A single entity, the Airman Heritage Training Complex, itself operated by the Air Education and Training Command . The museum recognized members of the Tuskegee Airmen and their families at opening of their exhibit on May 4, 2015. The research for the exhibit had begun in 2014 at the Air Force Historical Research Agency . The Airman Heritage Foundation continued to raise funds in 2019 for new building set to open in 2022. It

880-502: Is SAM 26000 , a modified Boeing 707 known as a VC-137C , used regularly by presidents John F. Kennedy , Lyndon B. Johnson , and Richard Nixon . This aircraft took President and Mrs. Kennedy to Dallas on 22 November 1963—the day of the President's assassination. Vice President Johnson was sworn in as president aboard it shortly after the assassination, and the aircraft then carried Kennedy's body back to Washington, D.C. It became

SECTION 10

#1732855418724

960-400: Is a Major General and the highest-ranking Security Forces officer, sometimes referred to as the "Top Cop". The director of Security Forces reports to the deputy chief of staff of the Air Force for logistics, engineering and force protection. The director of Security Forces has the responsibility to develop policy, doctrine, and guidance for Security Forces and serves as the executive agent for

1040-400: Is divided into galleries that cover broad historic trends in military aviation. These are further broken down into exhibits that detail specific historical periods and display aircraft in historical context. The museum's collection contains many rare aircraft of historical or technological importance, and various memorabilia and artifacts from the history and development of aviation. Among them

1120-658: Is planned to be more accessible, with the entrance outside the base. In 2019 the Airman Heritage Museum had 36,000 visitors and the Security Forces Exhibit Annex had 23,000 visitors. In 2020, nine static aircraft of the Southeast Asia Airpark were moved to make room for construction of new Airman Training Complexes. Aircraft moved to the Parade Ground Airpark included the B-52 , F-4 , F-5 , F-100 , B-57 , B-66 , and F-105 . The T-37 and UH-1 were moved to

1200-415: Is similar in appearance but replaces the embroidered falcon and airfield with either metal "pin-on" or embroidered rank. Main articles: Phu Cat Air Base Security Forces and United States military beret flash The "Falcon over crossed runways" is derived from the 1041st Security Police Squadron of Operation SAFESIDE. This unit evolved into the 82nd Combat Security Police Wing with the mission of providing

1280-674: Is the Apollo 15 Command Module Endeavour which orbited the Moon 74 times in 1971, one of four surviving Convair B-36 Peacemakers , the only surviving North American XB-70 Valkyrie and Bockscar —the Boeing B-29 Superfortress that dropped the Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki during the last days of World War II . In 2010, the museum launched its 360-degree Virtual Tour , allowing most aircraft and exhibits to be viewed online. In 2018,

1360-693: Is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world, with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display. The museum is a central component of the National Aviation Heritage Area . The museum draws about a million visitors each year, making it one of the most frequently visited tourist attractions in Ohio. The museum dates to 1923, when the Engineering Division at Dayton's McCook Field first collected technical artifacts for preservation. In 1927, it moved to then- Wright Field in

1440-720: Is the private non-profit organization that supports and raises funds for the museum. Its mission is to preserve and honor the history and heritage of enlisted airmen. National Museum of the United States Air Force The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum ) is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base , six miles (9.7 km) northeast of Dayton, Ohio . The NMUSAF

1520-469: The 820th Security Forces Group . The heraldry of the 820th SFG then replaced the individual MAJCOM emblems as beret insignia. Enlisted personnel wear the dark blue SF beret which bears the fabric SF "Flash" depicting a falcon over an airfield with the SF motto " Defensor Fortis ", literally meaning "Strong Defender" but taken to mean "defender of the force" according to the Air Force, underneath. An officer's "Flash"

1600-711: The Army Air Forces (AAF) air base security battalions in June 1942. Units were deployed throughout the European, Asian and African theaters and designed to defend against local ground attacks. These units were armed with rifles, machine guns and 37mm guns. On 29 March 1943, General Hap Arnold , the commander of the Army Air Forces, established the Office of the Air Provost Marshal , which established three separate organizations for

1680-677: The Beretta M9 , a 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a standard 15-round magazine, which brought the Security Police in line with the rest of the United States Armed Forces . Also in 1987 the Air Base Ground Defense School was moved from Camp Bullis to Fort Dix, where the Army was given control of the training. In 1989, as a part of Operation Just Cause , Security Police units were responsible for securing airfields during

SECTION 20

#1732855418724

1760-563: The Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle was placed on permanent public display in the World War II Gallery. The aircraft and its crew became iconic symbols of the heavy bomber crews and support personnel who helped defeat Nazi Germany. The museum has several Presidential aircraft , including those used by Franklin D. Roosevelt , Harry Truman , and Dwight D. Eisenhower . The centerpiece of the presidential aircraft collection

1840-588: The Cold War . In 1983, during Operation Urgent Fury , Security Police forces were among the first on Grenada, responsible for securing runways and POWs. In January 1985 women were finally permitted to enter the security field - the first since 1976. In 1987 the standard weapon of the Security Police Law Enforcement Branch was changed from the Smith & Wesson Model 15 .38-cal. six-shot revolver to

1920-553: The Khobar Towers bombing , the Air Force reevaluated how the Security Police was organized, and came to the realization it could not afford to have only a few specialize in the security aspect of the mission. On 31 October 1997, the Security Police became the Security Forces, with all individual specialties being merged into one Security Forces specialist AFSC. The Security Forces brought back the principles of Safe Side, transforming

2000-727: The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber (test aircraft), the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth ground attack aircraft and others. The fourth building has four galleries,Presidential, Research and Development, Space and Global Reach, housing more than 70 aircraft, missiles, and space vehicles. Also in the fourth building is an enlarged educational outreach area with three science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) Learning Nodes. Previously these collections were housed in an annex facility on Area B of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (the former Wright Field). Because

2080-502: The 3280th TCHTG OLA Air Force Liaison at Ft. McClellan, AL, or attend the Office of Special Investigations basic agent's course at Bolling AFB, Washington DC. In May 1975, Security Police units were tasked with a high priority rescue operation of the SS Mayaguez merchant ship, and with Air Force helicopters, were preparing to perform a boarding of the ship. Prior to the rescue mission one of

2160-512: The 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron stood up at Balad Airbase, and for the first time since the Vietnam War a Security Forces Squadron assumed full responsibility for the security, both on and off base, of a major air base in a war zone. On 28 September 2005, the 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron became the first combat Security Forces squadron to lose a member in Operation Iraqi Freedom when A1C Elizabeth Jacobson

2240-565: The 786th Security Forces Squadron performed the first Security Forces combat jump in Air Force history, taking Bashur Air Base in conjunction with the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade. Throughout the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Security Forces specialists, and airmen as a whole were pressed into more ground combat roles, to include running convoys. This resulted in the formation of The Aerospace Expeditionary Force Transport Company. These companies were not divided into flights, but rather platoons, with

2320-527: The 821st CSPS began a hasty training program at Schofield Barracks , Hawaii, and was in place at Phan Rang Air Base on its TDY deployment by 15 April. The 822nd CSPS was organized, more completely trained and replaced the 821st in August 1968. The 823rd CSPS was trained at Fort Campbell , Kentucky , and replaced the 822nd in March 1969, remaining until August 1969 when it was replaced by the 821st. The vindication for

2400-616: The Air Force began urgent operations focused on air base defense with the outbreak of the Korean War . A buildup of ground combat forces began. The center of this buildup was the expansion of the Air Force Air Police from 10,000 in July 1950 to 39,000 in December 1951. Still, one year into the war the Air Provost Marshal reported that "the Air Force is without policy or tactical doctrine for Air Base Ground Defense." In haste, Air Police serving as

2480-637: The Air Force mission might require point defense elements that the Army could not afford to protect, much less have the Air Force rely on the Army to come to the rescue. After the Korean War, General Curtis LeMay had the Air Police begin the Combat Arms Program, to better train airmen in the use of weapons. On 1 September 1950 the Air Police School was established at Tyndall Air Force Base . In 1952

USAF Airman Heritage Museum - Misplaced Pages Continue

2560-401: The Air Force the need for whole base defense measures, and demonstrated that airmen, regardless of AFSC, could be vulnerable to attack, just the same as Army and Marine forces. By January 1971 the Security Police career field was split into two separate functions: Law Enforcement Specialist (AFSC 811X2) and Security Specialist (AFSC 811X0). In November 1971 the first female airmen trained into

2640-536: The Air Force with worldwide ground defense capability and became the base model for all modern USAF Security Forces. This symbol was adopted to represent this ground defense mission. The signature blue beret worn by USAF Security Forces shows a falcon above crossed runways. The runways represent Air Force bases and the swooping falcon symbolizes force protection. Inspired by the Strategic Air Command Elite Guard and Operation Safeside Security Police,

2720-528: The Air Police school was transferred to Parks AFB , California, and re-designated the "Air Base Defense School" to emphasize on air base defense capabilities. It soon became evident the emphasis on air base defense was not making much headway. On 13 October 1956 Air Police training was transferred to Lackland AFB , Texas , where it evolved into Security Police training and eventually became the US Air Force Security Forces Academy. Toward

2800-453: The Air Provost Marshal. Immediately twenty-two military police companies were predesignated Air Police squadrons, however the term Air Police did not come into full usage until November 1948. The transfer of personnel fully from the Army to the Air Force was supposed to be completed by December 1948, however it was not fully completed until 1953. In April 1952 Army grade titles and MOS designations were replaced with Air Force AFSCs. In June 1950

2880-599: The Army back to the Air Force. During Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, Security Police forces conducted convoy operations and acted as a peacekeeping force. In 1996 the Khobar Towers Bombing occurred, with 19 airmen killed and 260 injured. Security Policemen SSgt Alfredo Guerrero, SrA Corey Grice and A1C Christopher Wager received the Airman's Medal for their actions prior to and after the terrorist attack. In response to

2960-514: The Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program. The deputy director of Security Forces acts as the second-in-command to the director of Security Forces. The Security Forces Career Field Manager is a chief master sergeant and the senior enlisted Defender, acting as an adviser to the director of Air Force Security Forces. The USAF Security Forces lineage can be traced to its beginning in WWII with

3040-513: The Department of Defense. By 1965 the USAF had a pool of sentry dog teams available for deployment to South Vietnam . Nightly at every air base, sentry dog teams were deployed as a detection and warning screen in the zone separating combat forces from the perimeter. Nearly all air base defense personnel agreed that the Sentry Dog Teams rendered outstanding service, with some going as far to say "Of all

3120-638: The German blitzkrieg . Blitzkrieg relied on swift attacks by land and air. One of the tactics employed by blitzkrieg was the use of paratroops and airborne forces to capture, or destroy in advance, air bases. A key turning point in air base defensive thinking came with the loss of the Battle of Crete to German forces and capture of the British air base at Maleme in 1941. This single action led then Prime Minister Winston Churchill to study British air base defense policy, and in

3200-512: The Inter-American Air Force Academy. The Airman Heritage Training Complex provided technical support for the move. The current indoor space is 6,778 sq ft (630 m) with 5,000 sq ft (460 m) of exhibit space. The museum has over 4,000 artifacts from 1907 to present, which are on loan from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force . A total of 35 exhibits are on display, including scale models of planes,

3280-453: The Invasion of Panama and performing drug interdiction and humanitarian missions. In August 1990, Security Police were deployed to Saudi Arabia as a part of Operation Desert Shield , where they were responsible for guarding airbases, dignitary support, and counterterrorism. In August 1995 Air Base Ground Defense Training was moved from Fort Dix back to Camp Bullis, and control was shifted from

USAF Airman Heritage Museum - Misplaced Pages Continue

3360-522: The Parade Ground Airpark. The aircraft represent Army Air Corps and Air Force history spanning eight decades. The Security Forces Annex contains 47 exhibits and an archival repository pertaining to the history of the Air Force Security Forces since 1947, including the history of military, air, and security police. Special exhibits are on display regarding women in the Security Forces and military working dogs . The Airman Heritage Foundation

3440-537: The Raven program, which attached Security Forces specialists to its aircraft to provide on-site security in hostile or remote environments. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Security Forces prepared for additional attacks and combat operations, both in the United States and abroad. On 16 December 2001, airmen with the 786th Security Forces Squadron deployed to Manas International Airport, Kyrgyzstan, to provide security while

3520-572: The SAC Elite Guard beret for their units as a less-conspicuous alternative to the official white Security Police cover for certain specialized personnel. In Thailand during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Military Working Dog handlers assigned to the 6280th SPS at the Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base sported a dark blue beret with no insignia. Other units adopted a beret to distinguish their guards. In 1975 Brig Gen Thomas Sadler

3600-435: The Safe Side program occurred during the Battle of Tan Son Nhut, as part of the Tet Offensive , on 31 January 1968, when Tan Son Nhut Airbase was attacked by a combined force of seven North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong battalions, composing an enemy force of 2,500 enemy troops. The combat-trained Security Police were able to hold off the North Vietnamese forces, preventing the loss of the airbase. The Vietnam War demonstrated to

3680-417: The Security Forces into a combat force. In 1997 the Air Force activated the 820th Base Defense Group , a Force Protection unit based at Moody Air Force Base , Georgia . The unit is a trained force protection unit of 12 Air Force Specialty Codes with an airborne capability, and is intended to serve as a quick reaction force, capable of deploying anywhere in the world. Air Mobility Command also activated

3760-450: The Space Gallery, Presidential Aircraft Gallery, and Global Reach Gallery. With the additional space, more than 70 aircraft that were in storage have been put back on display, such as the XB-70 Valkyrie . The Presidential Aircraft collection is also back on site, having been moved to an outside location for some time. The Air Force Museum Foundation funded the construction entirely with private donations from several different sources at

3840-446: The U.S. Army was cited as being tasked to control the security of the area around the air base, and after-action scrutiny along with politics served to foster distrust and jealousy between services, chains of command and the U.S. and Vietnamese services. As a result, air bases in South Vietnam were left vulnerable. By striking at USAF air bases the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and VC employed Giulio Douhet 's military concept, which stated

3920-465: The USAF to build a new museum. Its goal was to raise money for the new building, targeting a fall 2017 opening. The new museum would be located on a 85,000 sq ft (7,900 m) site north of the parade grounds. It would have 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m) of exhibit space and be privately funded with $ 50 million by the Airman Heritage Foundation. In 2014 the Airman Heritage Museum and Security Forces Exhibit Annex were brought together under

4000-433: The United States. Most of these loaned aircraft duplicate aircraft exhibited by the museum. These other aircraft remain the property of the Department of the Air Force and are typically identified at these locations as being "On Loan from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force." The museum's staff has very high standards for the restoration and quality of care of loaned assets and has, in the past, revoked these loans when it

4080-481: The Wrights' 1909 Military Flyer is on display, as well as other Wright brothers artifacts. The building also hosts the National Aviation Hall of Fame , which includes several educational exhibits. The museum has many pieces of U.S. Army Air Forces and U.S. Air Force clothing and uniforms. At any time, more than 50 World War II-vintage A-2 leather flying jackets are on display, many of which belonged to famous figures in Air Force history. Others are painted to depict

SECTION 50

#1732855418724

4160-423: The air base. The VC fired 60-80 rounds into parked aircraft and troop billets, then withdrew undetected and unabated. The attack killed four US military personnel, wounded 30 and destroyed and/or damaged 20 B-57 bombers. U.S. air bases had become targets and became routine targets thereafter. The Air Force was not allowed to patrol the perimeter of their bases. That role was left up to the Vietnamese Air Force. Also,

4240-463: The airbase was under construction, to support U.S. operations in Afghanistan. Three months later the 822nd Security Forces Squadron assumed the role, and conducted patrols outside the airbase to deter attack and build relations with local villagers. On 19 March 2003 the United States invaded Iraq, and on the same day members of the 161st Security Forces Squadron arrived in country, securing the newly captured Tallil Air Base. On 26 March 2003, elements of

4320-493: The airbases. The successes of this initial squadron resulted in the creation of the 82nd Combat Security Police Wing and the development of ground combat training for all security policemen. In 1968 the Air Force accepted the Safe Side Program's recommendation to establish 559-man Combat Security Police Squadrons (CSPS) organized into three field flights. Three CSPS were incrementally activated, trained and deployed in 179-day temporary duty rotations to South Vietnam. On 15 March 1968

4400-423: The airplanes and missions flown by their former owners. The displays include the jacket worn by Brigadier General James Stewart , P-38 ace Major Richard I. Bong 's sheepskin B-3 jacket and boots, an A-2 jacket worn by one of the few USAAF pilots to leave the ground during the attack on Pearl Harbor , and President Ronald Reagan 's USAAF peacoat . The third building houses post- Cold War era planes such as

4480-541: The annex was physically located on the base itself, museum guests were required to go through additional security checks before taking museum buses to the hangar. The museum owns other USAF aircraft, including former U.S. Army Air Service , USAAC or USAAF aircraft, that are on loan to other aerospace museums in the United States and overseas, as well as those on permanent static display at various U.S. Air Force installations and tenant activities worldwide, and at Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard installations across

4560-467: The backup presidential aircraft after Nixon's first term. It was temporarily removed from display on 5 December 2009, repainted and returned to display on President's Day in 2010. All presidential aircraft are now displayed in the Presidential Gallery, in the fourth building. A large section of the museum is dedicated to pioneers of flight, especially the Wright Brothers , who conducted some of their experiments at nearby Huffman Prairie . A replica of

4640-439: The cadre of this force were outfitted with armored vehicles, machine guns and recoilless rifles. Air base defense was officially implemented by Air Force Regulation (AFR) 355–4 on 3 March 1953. AFR 355-4 defined air base defense "as all measures taken by the installation commander to deny hostile forces access to the area encompassing all buildings, equipment, facilities, landing fields, dispersal areas and adjacent terrain." However,

4720-399: The concept with personnel. The uniform board approved the proposal, and the beret was officially worn worldwide starting in February 1976. The 1976 beret was worn with the MAJCOM crest of the appropriate major command to which the unit was assigned. It continued in this manner for 20 years until the forming of the Security Forces. In March 1997 the 82nd CSPW was reactivated and re-designated

4800-545: The end of the 1950s and into the 1960s, the Air Police began to reemphasize the security aspect of their mission, with a strong focus being given to protecting the Air Force's strategic nuclear weapons, and a greater amount of centralization regarding training occurred. The Air Provost Marshal was also redesignated the Director of Security and Law Enforcement. On 1 November 1964, between 12:25 and 12:33 am, Vietnamese Communist (VC) troops attacked Bien Hoa Air Base with six 81mm mortars positioned about 400 meters north, outside

4880-449: The equipment and methods used to detect an attacking enemy force, the sentry dog has provided the most sure, all-inclusive means." During their time in Korea and early in Vietnam, the Air Police found themselves in a number of ground combat roles, some of which more accurately reflected an infantry-type role than that of the military police. In 1966 the Air Police were redesignated the Security Police, in an effort to more accurately reflect

SECTION 60

#1732855418724

4960-405: The first, the 2632nd Aerospace Expeditionary Force Transport Company, deploying in April 2004. Some Security Forces specialists were also attached to Army and Marine infantry units to provide either manpower or military working dogs. On 1 January 2005 Task Force 1041 was formed by elements of the 820th Security Forces Group to execute Operation Desert Safe Side. The objective was to conduct outside

5040-401: The helicopters crashed, killing 18 security policemen, and forcing the mission to be aborted. The loss of this aircraft was attributed to a failure to properly assemble a blade sleeve during overhaul nearly a year earlier. From 1981 to 1989 the Security Police were responsible for protecting the USAF's ground launched cruise missiles in Europe, providing security for them during the height of

5120-503: The law enforcement and security role: Guard Squadrons, Military Police Companies (Aviation), and Air Base Security Battalions. Guard Squadrons were assigned to provide interior law enforcement and security to bases within the continental United States, with a technical guard school at Miami Army Air Field and a military police school at Buckley Field. Outside the United States the duties of law enforcement and internal security were carried out by Military Police Companies (Aviation), which, while

5200-463: The law enforcement specialty, and in November 1976 100 female airmen were trained as security specialists. Although the female security specialist program was soon after shut down, they have the distinction of being the first women permitted into any combat role in the entire U.S. Armed Forces. Law enforcement specialists, who had excelled in their career field, could be selected as criminal investigators and attend Military Police Investigations training at

5280-580: The mission and goals of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. United States Air Force Security Forces The United States Air Force Security Forces ( SF ) are the ground combat force and military police service of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force . The USAF Security Forces were formerly known as Military Police ( MP ), Air Police ( AP ), and Security Police ( SP ) at various points in their history. Due to its significant ground combat mission, Security Forces are sometimes regarded as Air Force infantry . They were formed on

5360-488: The museum has more than tripled in square footage since 1971, with the addition of a second hangar in 1988, a third in 2003, and a fourth in 2016. In October 2004, the name changed from United States Air Force Museum to National Museum of the United States Air Force. In June 2016, the museum open its 224,000-square-foot (20,800 m ) fourth building that expanded the museum to the current 1,120,000 square feet (104,000 m ) of exhibit space. The fourth building houses

5440-402: The official history of the USAF Security Forces referring to them as the Army Air Forces' "infantry" When the Air Force was created with the signing of the National Security Act of 1947 , all members of the AAF were transferred to the new branch, to include military police attached to the Army Air Forces. On 2 January 1948 the Military Police were reformed into the Air Police and established

5520-399: The only effective way to counter air power was to destroy its bases on the ground. This concept has also been proven effective during the Indochina War from 1946 to 1954, when the Viet Minh regularly and successfully attacked French air bases. The USAF Sentry Dog program was a product of the Korean War . On 1 May 1957 the Air Force gained responsibility for training all working dogs in

5600-461: The planes' respective squadrons, crew, and pilots, ensuring correct paint and insignias. On March 5, 1958 the Air Force announced the consolidation of museums at Randolph and Lackland Air Force Bases into the one at Lackland. The History and Traditions Museum annual attendance was over 100,000 in the 1970s. The museum had over 50 aircraft and missiles , a reference library, and miniatures recreating WWII air battles . The engine exhibit contained

5680-522: The premise of being the Air Force's "Marine Corps", in that they would provide security for the Air Force similar to how the Marines provide security for the Navy . As outlined in Department of the Air Force publications, Security Forces are responsible for protecting, defending, and fighting to ensure U.S. Air Force, joint, and coalition mission success. They are responsible not only for installation law and discipline enforcement, but also base defense and ground combat. The director of Security Forces

5760-578: The prime of life protected by detachments of soldiers." Churchill's directive resulted in formation of the RAF Regiment . On 12 February 1942 the United States adopted the British air defense philosophy. The Army Chief of Staff, Gen. George C. Marshall , approved the allocation of 53,299 African-Americans to the Army Air Forces with the "stipulation that air base defense 'for the number of air bases found necessary' be organized and that 'Negro personnel' be used for this purpose as required." This order formed

5840-538: The regulation did not include provisions for sustained ground defense operations. Performance of this mission fell to the provisional base defense task forces to be organized and equipped like infantry. It was the Strategic Air Command 's (SAC) October 1952 edition of the SAC Manual 205-2 that rejected the notion that the USAF's ground defense mission conflicted with Army functions. SAC officials felt that success of

5920-615: The security and combat aspect of their mission. Shortly after the creation of the Security Police, in 1967 the "Safe Side" program was activated, which resulted in certain Security Police squadrons being trained in the use of light infantry tactics and special weapons to better enhance air base defense. Many of the squadrons that were part of the Safe Side project, such as the 1041st Security Police Squadron (Test), established observation posts, listening posts, conducted reconnaissance and ambush patrols, and served as mobile response forces to protect

6000-530: The weather. Through the 1960s, Eugene Kettering, son of Charles F. Kettering , led the project to build a permanent structure to house the collections and became the first chairman of the board of the Air Force Museum Foundation. When he died in 1969, his widow Virginia took over the project. Her "determination, logic and meticulous attention" kept it on track, and the current facility opened in 1971. Not including its annex on Wright Field proper,

6080-399: The wire "kill or capture" missions in one of the most violent areas of Iraq. At the end of the operation, they had reduced attacks on the local airbase to almost zero, while capturing 18 high-value targets, eight major weapons caches, and 98 other insurgent or terrorist targets. Units, such as the 824th Security Forces Squadron, were responsible for training Iraqi security forces. In Summer 2008

6160-412: Was appointed Air Force Chief of Security Police with the task of bringing the Security Police career field into the mainstream of the Air Force. One tool he employed was recognition of members of a distinctive portion of the force, with the beret proposed as a uniform change. Significant opposition to the beret from senior colonels and Major Command (MAJCOM) Chiefs was gradually overcome by the popularity of

6240-504: Was deemed that these other museums did not have the resources to properly care for an artifact. This happened in the case of the famous Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress , Memphis Belle . For an additional fee, guests can view aviation- and space-oriented films in a large format theater interspersed primarily with other documentaries. In 2013, the Air Force Museum Theater was upgraded from IMAX to digital 3D. The renovation included

6320-622: Was killed in action near Safwan, Basra Governorate, Iraq. - Emergency Service Teams; - Phoenix Raven; - Stinger Missile Program; - The Elite Guard; - Close Precision Engagement (CPE) teams; - U.S. Air Force Tactical Response Force (TRF); - Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element (DAGRE); - Security Forces Marine Patrol Flight; - E4 B NEACP/NAOC Duty; - Military Working Horse Units; - Military working dog teams; - Base Honor Guard. The Strategic Air Command's Elite Guard , an Air Police unit first established in December 1956 to provide security at USAF SAC headquarters,

6400-482: Was the first USAF unit officially authorized to wear a blue beret (with affixed SAC patch) in 1957 as part of their distinct Elite Guard uniform. The Elite Guard's dark blue serge wool beret was worn on duty, at both guard and ceremonial functions, from 1957 onwards. In 1966–67, during Operation Safe Side, the first Security Police beret was issued by the 1041st Security Police Squadron. This experimental and specially trained Air Base Ground Defense (ABGD) unit adopted

#723276