U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for September 18

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18: AIR FORCE ESTABLISHED

Profile America — Saturday, September 18th.  The U.S. Air Force became a separate military service on this date in 1947, as part of the National Security Act, which also established the Department of Defense.  The U.S. Army first setup a military aviation unit in 1907 and in 1909 bought its first aircraft from the Wright Brothers.  While the Army's aviation unit was known by a number of different names, during the years of major expansion in World War II, it was officially called "the U.S. Army Air Forces," although the previous name "U.S. Army Air Corps" was still widely used.  Today, the U.S. Air Force has more than 325,000 officers and enlisted personnel stationed at bases in the U.S. and around the world.  Profile America is in its 14th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, p. 470

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 498

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau