Reflections from History and Faith: Soaring to new horizons

By Jeff Olson

Most branches of the American military have a history going back many years, actually several centuries. For instance, the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps were established in 1775, and the Coast Guard in 1790. However, the U.S. Air Force has a much shorter history, but only shorter in time — not necessarily shorter in progress and achievements.

The relatively brief history of the Air Force is understandable, given the fact that this branch of service became possible only after air flight itself became feasible. Of course, we know of the Wright Brothers milestone flights in 1903 and of the rapid progress made within the next decade that allowed the military use of fixed-wing aircraft during World War I (1914-1918).

Great aviators such as Harriet Quimby, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Eddie Rickenbacker, James Doolittle, and Charles Yeager (just to name a few) and countless other fliers who were barnstormers and test pilots dedicated their lives, (some giving all) to make aviation a safe, reliable and practical form of transportation.

These pioneers and thousands of others contributed their own expertise and treasure in building our nation’s military air force over a period of 40 years before there was ever a separate military branch dedicated to aviation. Following is a brief outline of this great story.

On August 1, 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corps established a small Aeronautical Division to take “charge of all matters pertaining to military ballooning, air machines and all kindred subjects.” The Signal Corps began testing its first airplane at Fort Myer, Virginia on August 20, 1908, and on September 9, Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge, flying with Orville Wright, was killed when the plane crashed. He was the first military aviation casualty.

On December 8, 1913, the 1st Aero Squadron was formed. This was the first military unit of the U.S. Army devoted exclusively to aviation, and it became the first air combat unit of the U.S. Army in 1916.

In July 1914 an Aviation Section replaced the Aeronautical Division of the Signal Corps. It directed the Aviation Section to operate and supervise “all military [U.S. Army] aircraft, including balloons and aeroplanes, all appliances pertaining to said craft, and signaling apparatus of any kind when installed on said craft.”

When World War I broke out in Europe in August 1914, the 1st Aero Squadron represented the entire tactical air strength of the U.S. Army. By December 1915, the Aviation Section consisted of 44 officers, 224 enlisted men and 23 airplanes—a very small force compared to the air forces of the European powers.

On May 20, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson issued an executive order transferring aviation from the Signal Corps to two agencies under the Sec- retary of War: The Bureau of Aircraft Production and the Division of Military Aeronautics. The Army Reorganization Act of 1920 made the Air Service a combatant arm of the Army with a Chief of the Air Service its commander.

The Air Corps Act of 1926 changed the name of the Air Service to Air Corps, but still remained a combatant arm of the U.S. Army. This act also established the Office of Assistant Secretary of War for Air. By now, the Air Corps had 919 officers and 8,725 enlisted men, 60 pursuit planes and 169 observation planes.

In August 1926 the Army established the Air Corps Training Center in San Antonio, Texas. In March 1935, the General Headquarters Air Force became operational and assumed command and control over Air Corps tactical units.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt understood the growing importance of air power, especially with the possibility of the United States entering World War II (1939-1945). In a message to Congress on January 12, 1939, the president requested that the Air Corps be equipped with 10,000 airplanes, of which 7,500 were to be combat aircraft. Congress responded on April 3, authorizing $300 million for an Air Corps “not to exceed 6,000 serviceable airplanes.”

America’s entrance into World War II soon required mass production of aircraft, the formation of many commands, divisions, wings, groups, and squadrons, plus an assortment of other organizations. It was obvious by the end of the war that there was a need for an independent air force to command and coordinate the strategic, tactical, defense, and airlift missions which had grown over the past decade.

These comprised the core foundation for building the postwar, independent air force which became a reality 76 years ago this week, September 18, 1947, when the United States Air Force (USAF) was established by the National Security Act of 1947.

Since then, the USAF has repeatedly proven indispensable as an effective defender of freedom and deterrent to hostilities around the world. The nature of its mission has grown in scope and complexity, especially with the advent of the Space Force in 2019, which is within the Department of the Air Force. Advances will continue as new horizons of technology and science are discovered in the years to come.

I am very proud to be among those who have served in the U.S. Air Force (via the Air National Guard), having had the privilege of serving alongside many dedicated patriots who had an important role in keeping our aircraft in the air. I continue to be among those who honor and revere our Veterans and salute and pray for those still serving in the U.S. Air Force and in all branches of our military service.

By Richie Lawry

The wind buffeted the little Maverick pickup as we drove through Western Kansas on Interstate 70. My wife and I were on our way to Loveland, Colorado, to attend our 50-year high school reunion. The road seemed to stretch on forever as the wind continued to blow. As we crossed the state line between Kansas and Colorado, a dilapidated sign read, “Welcome to Colorful Colorado.”

I surveyed the landscape around me and saw nothing but brown, tan, and beige. There was nothing colorful I could see. The Eastern Colorado plains are among the most sparsely populated areas in the continental United States. The dry grasslands stretched before me as far as the eye could see. Occasionally, there would be a farmstead with a few trees around it to break up the monotonous tan of the dry grasslands.

Before long, we came to the exit to Stratton, and I turned off the interstate and drove into town. I needed a break to stretch my legs, and the town of Stratton has always fascinated me. It is a small town with a population of less than 700 people. For many years, I have heard stories about Stratton, where my father-in-law grew up.

As I look around the small town, it’s hard to believe that Stratton, Colorado, once had a famous hotel, the Collins Hotel, where many famous people stayed. The great baseball player Babe Ruth was a guest at the hotel. Times have changed significantly over the last hundred years, and there is no longer a hotel.

Stratton was incorporated on Apr. 15, 1917, and named after Winfield Scott Stratton, also known as “Mr. Gold.” He struck it rich at Cripple Creek in the 1890s. He hit a major vein in his Independence mine and eventually sold the mine in 1899 for $11 million. Stratton remained loyal to his blue-collar roots, giving away most of his money. He willed his wealth to create the Myron Stratton Home for the poor without means of support or unable to earn