Eighty Years of Advocacy, Education, and Support

With World War II barely over, Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold, Commanding General of the Army Air Forces, called for the creation of an organization that would be a home for three million returning Airmen and a permanent advocate for airpower. America’s leading airpower advocates, such as Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, answered the call, and AFA was incorporated on February 4, 1946—more than a year before the Air Force became an independent military service.

Hap Arnold

Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold, Commanding General of the Army Air Forces

At the time, America’s air forces were still part of the U.S. Army. AFA championed the case that airpower had become decisive, and that the nation’s defense depended on an Air Force standing on equal footing.

Eight decades later, AFA continues to carry that legacy forward by advocating for a strong Air Force and Space Force, supporting Airmen, Guardians, and their Families, and preserving the heritage of those who served.

Celebrate this legacy and advance AFA’s mission. Your gift funds the advocacy, the scholarships, and the programs that keep Airmen and Guardians ready for the future.

Happy Birthday, U.S Air Force!