JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. —
After the conclusion of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War, President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act on July 26, 1947.
The goal of the National Security Act was, “to provide a comprehensive program for the future security of the United States.” With President Truman’s signature, a major reorganization to the U.S. military occurred.
First, it created the Department of Defense with the Navy and Marine Corps under the Department of the Navy.
The Department of War became the Department of the Army and the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was detached and received its own designation as the Department of the Air Force.
Under the Department of the Air Force, the act established the United States Air Force (USAF), headed by the Chief of Staff, USAF. On September 18, 1947, W. Stuart Symington became Secretary of the Air Force, and on September 26, General Carl A. Spaatz became the USAF’s first Chief of Staff.
The major commands of the USAF in September 1947 included:
Air Defense Command Bolling Field Command
Air Materiel Command Caribbean Air Command
Air Proving Ground Command Far East Air Forces
Air Training Command Seventh Air Force
Air Transport Command Strategic Air Command
Air University Tactical Air Command
Alaskan Air Command U.S. Air Forces in Europe