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The Vault - Fallout Wiki
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United States Air Force
FO3BS USAF Insignia
Modern United States Air Force Symbol
Society
Notable MembersColonel Hartigan
Captain Carl Bell
Territory
HeadquartersPentagon (defunct)
Notable Locations
Relations and associations
ParentUnited States Armed Forces
Child Entities
  • Strategic Air Command
  • 44th Bombardment Group
  • 82nd Airborne Division
  • Related EntitiesBoomers
    Air National Guard
     
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    Gametitle-FO3Gametitle-FO3 BSGametitle-FO3 PLGametitle-FO4Gametitle-FNV

    The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. Initially founded as part of the United States Army, the USAF reformed into a separate branch of the military in 1947, as the youngest and most recent branch of the United States military.[1]

    History[]

    Main article: Pre-Divergence military history of the United States, Post-Divergence history

    The youngest branch of the military dates back to 1907 and the foundation of the Aeronautical Division of the Signal Corps. Although it had a turbulent organizational history, it became one of the most important assets of the American war machine, particularly during World War II, when military aviation was a crucial asset in defeating the Empire of Japan and the Third Reich. The Air Force was instrumental in pioneering manned spaceflight and the militarization of space, with the pioneering flight of Defiance 7 on May 5, 1961, when Captain Carl Bell became the first human in space. However, the claim was widely disputed by the Soviet Union and China.[2] Subsequent manned spaceflight tests perfected the technology, despite setbacks such as the loss of Clarabella 7 and Colonel Hartigan to high-altitude weather balloons (the body was never recovered, as the capsule was actually intercepted by Zetans researching the human population).[3][4]

    By the end of the decade, the United States had achieved victory in the space race, as the Virgo II lunar lander touched down on the surface of Earth's moon on July 16, 1969.[5] Valiant 11 mission members, Captain Richard Wade, Captain Mark Garris, and Captain Michael Hagen became the first humans to walk on the surface of another celestial body[6] - with weapons drawn.[5] With the gradual exhaustion of resources, the space exploration program would peter out by 2034, when the remaining space exploration vehicles like the Delta IX were converted to military ordnance - foreshadowing the eventual fate of the American state.[7]

    21st century[]

    The history of the air force is closely intertwined with the general history of the Armed Forces. Together with the Army and the Navy, the Air Force was responsible for maintaining the nuclear arsenal of the United States through the Strategic Air Command, as well as aerial warfare in the numerous resource conflicts the United States participated in or outright instigated. This included including the United States invasion of Mexico of 2052, the Sino-American War (2066–2077), and the United States annexation of Canada.[8]

    Technology[]

    See also: United States Armed Forces materiel and installations

    As the most powerful military in the world, the Air Force's weapons were second to none. Personal equipment used by the Air Force was no different than that of the United States Army or the United States Marine Corps, and usually consisted of rugged, reliable equipment like the standard flight suits and combat armor.[9]

    The standard fighter of the Air Force was the Lockreed fighter jet[10] and the Stingray Deluxe.[11]

    To support its operations, the Air Force operated air force bases throughout the nation. One of the most important was Adams Air Force Base, linked directly to the White House and the Congress. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was also a major staging area for Air Force operations, including their nuclear bombers outfitted with Mark 28 nuclear bombs,[12] and satellite surveillance, as was the case with USAF satellite station Olivia.[13]

    Gallery[]

    Insignia[]

    References

    1. Real-world pre-Divergence history.
    2. Museum of Technology placard: "This is the actual skeleton of Captain Carl Bell who died on May 5, 1961 after his Space Capsule crash landed. Captain Bell is credited as being the first human in space on board the Space Capsule Defiance 7, but this has been constantly refuted by both the Soviet Union and China. Defiance 7's flight lasted for a total of 12 minutes and 7 seconds as it achieved one full revolution around the Earth. Donated by Edwina Bell."
    3. Alien Captive Recorded Log 8
    4. Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.66: "Colonel Hartigan (deceased)
      Hartigan was returning from a low-orbit mission in his capsule Clarabella 7, but he never made it back to its ocean splashdown rendezvous point. The mystery was soon covered up by the U.S. government and the United States Space Administration, who claimed the craft crash-landed after becoming entangled in high-altitude weather balloons. Hartigan himself soon made first contact with the Aliens and attempted to calmly explain his mission. His screams can still be heard echoing through a Recorded Log on the ship. He was placed in cryogenic stasis pod, but complications and pod malfunctions, plus the stress he endured during his Alien encounters, caused the colonel to expire. His Spacesuit is still useful, however."
      (Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census)
    5. 5.0 5.1 Museum of Freedom mural mentions the Sea of Tranquility specifically
    6. Museum of Technology placard: "On July 16, 1969, the Virgo II Lunar Lander "Valiant 11" became the very first manned space vehicle to touch down on the moon. The Valiant 11's crew consisted of Captain Richard Wade, Captain Mark Garris and Captain Michael Hagen of the USSA. We salute these brave and noble men who took the very first steps on a planetary body other than our own."
    7. Museum of Technology terminals; Delta IX Rocket, Delta IX Rocket Information: "The Delta IX Rocket, commissioned by the USSA in 2020, was the last of the manned rockets that sent our brave American Astronauts to the moon. The Delta IX was in use for almost 15 years before being converted for military use and having the crew and instruments sections replaced with a nuclear warhead. The Delta IX recorded over 77 successful launches, making it one of the most successful rockets in U.S. History.
      The rocket, developed entirely by USSA scientists, was a single-stage vehicle with an ejectable crew section or satellite storage bay. The propulsion system was a nuclear-electric derivative drive, using a massive electrical jolt to start the nuclear reaction on launch. The crew section was protected from the radioactive chambers by way of a massive titanium-vanadium disc. The spacecraft had the capability to sustain 2 astronauts for up to 24 days maximum. The longest recorded spaceflight in a Delta IX rocket was the 17-day Zeus 12 Mission to the moon."
      Note: Almost 15 years is interpreted as 14 years.
    8. See United States Armed Forces for references.
    9. See appropriate pages for references.
    10. The jet is present at Adams Air Force Base, rusting in various hangars, hinting at its contemporary use.
    11. The fighter is found aplenty in the Commonwealth, a major staging area for the Air Force.
    12. Ingram: "Prime's bomb pack is fitted for Mark 28 Nuclear Bombs. The same type of bombs that were dropped from aircraft during the Great War. The Commonwealth was a major staging area for the military's air force, so we assumed we wouldn't have trouble finding them. But since we arrived, our scouting teams haven't located a single bomb."
    13. USAF satellite station Olivia terminals; Guard Terminal, Check-in Log: "
      22 OCT 77
      --------------------------------
      0550 - 1st Lt Williams
      0603 - Capt Johnson
      0610 - CCMSgt Applegate
      0612 - SMSgt Ritchie
      0615 - TSgt Cooper
      0630 - SSgt Miller
      0630 - SSgt Winters
      0630 - SSgt Hicks
      0635 - SrA O'Malley
      1105 - TSgt Cummings"
      Note: CCMSgt and SMSgt refer to Air Force ranks, establishing the connection.
    14. Boomer flightsuit
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