US Army Aviation in WWII - Army Air Corps or Army Air Forces?
- Richard Murphy

- Jan 13
- 1 min read
I don't have the brain to read something once and remember it forever.
That's why during school and well after I make cheat sheets for myself.
Below are the names of the Army's air forces from 1907 to 1947, when the Air Force became its own branch.
Submitted for your ease of reference - and mine!
US Army Signal Corps - August 1, 1907 to May 24, 1918.
US Army Air Service (USAAS) - May 24, 1918 to July 2, 1926.
US Army Air Corps (USAAC) - July 2, 1926 to June 20, 1941.
US Army Air Forces (USAAF) - June 20, 1941 to September 19, 1947.
US Air Force (USAF) - September 19, 1947 to current.
Photo courtesy of the Imperial War Museum

Description of the photo per the museum:
A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group with their new B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 12 Dec 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'RF.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Flying Fortress Crew Back In Action Following Crash On English Village. Photo Shows:- Some of the crew walking from their new ship at a station "somewhere in England". L.-R.:- T/Sgt. William D. Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, South Carolina; Sergeant Waldon D. Cohen, Ball-turret gunner, of Altoona, Pennsylvania; Sgt. Harold J. Kelsen, waist-gunner, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lieutenant Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lieutenant Walter B. Keith, pilot of Hodgeville, Kentucky; S/Sgt. Benhanmin C. Musser, radio operator, of Quarryville, Pennsylvania; and Sgt. Robert V. Kerr, tail-gunner of Montesano, Washington. Gai. December 11th. 1943. PN.' Censor no: 264492. On reverse: Planet News Ltd. and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].


