What (if any) heritage would you say the Air Force has?

Here is what I see as the Air Force heritage...I served in the USAF in Thailand, Vietnam, I and other bases. I had a First Shirt that came and drug me out of a hotel where underage drinking was going on just before the police arrived, I had my Shop Chief take $50 dollars out of his own pocket and drive me to an airport to catch a plane home when my dad had a heart attack. I was highly trained, given responsibility commensurate with my training and attitude and pushed hard to keep learning more doing more and being more. I saw guys faced with an avionics problem who refused to go home at the end of their shift because that sortie the next morning was a matter of pride. Those same troops knew that not only the aircrew's life depended on them, but the front line troops fighting on the ground needed that plane in the air at the right time fully functional and able to to do what it was supposed to do and return for another load. We knew that what we did mattered. I had good commanders and I had bad commanders but the system survived. My Air Force heritage was that that even after all the squadron "butt-chewings" I got from my CMsgts, I stood straighter and prouder than anything else could have made me. I owe every success I've had in my life to what I learned in the USAF. To this day, I still get exhilarated at the smell of JP-4. The heritage is the people, the systems and the mission. Can't have any without all....

I retired in 86, so much has changed, however I joined the USAF after serving in the USN and then assigned to the USMC, working multiple career fields in the USAF. I stayed in the USAF because of the camaraderie, Esprit De Corps, and how the officer & enlisted worked together to get the mission done right! I'm a Vietnam Corp vet, and we had "Sandys" (predecessor to the A-10), A-10, serving in a different mode (guiding smart-bombs and other aspects); Jolly Greens(Air Rescue) and Specter Gunships, etc. These team players worked together to ensure there was support for all "friendly" troops, from the air. As General Comer stated, they worked the skies, and virtually everything between that ground (with bunker busters - well below!) The ground troops, downed pilots, all were happy to know the USAF was around, maybe not seen. Sometimes that's like the enemy, can't see us, then boom, we are there and their families are met by officials of their respective country. Well, maybe they don't get a visit, the family memember does not return home whole, if at all.

MSgt Aaron Brite I think you mean we don't fight land battles. There have been numerous air battles that contribute to our heritage.

Maj (Join to see) Thank for your down vote. My response is based on the relative few Air Force personnel who participate in battles versus the vast bulk of us who provide the backbone of the modern battlespace. For a lengthier answer see the response posted byMaj Gen Richard Comer .

SSG Robert Webster, I edited my original comment for accuracy! :)

LTC Stephen C. - Thank you, though I do hope that you checked my statement for accuracy. In historical interpretation, a fact can change when the empirical evidence is supplanted with different evidence.

SSG Robert Webster, I did indeed read about the French Aerostatic Corps (FAC). Thank you. However, I researched it more to learn about the FAC rather than to check up on you. I was aware of the Montgolfier brothers work with balloons, but was clueless about the FAC.
What I did find of interest is that it doesn't appear that the Signal Corps (and Albert J. Myer) was involved with ballooning during the Civil War. As best I can tell, it was Professor Thaddeus C. Lowe who was the Chief Aeronaut of the Union Army Balloon Corps. Although mention is made of the use of signal flags and telegraph instruments, it's Lowe who is credited with testing and use. As a Signal Corps officer, I was disappointed to learn this! MAJ (Join to see), I hope you can prove me wrong!

Good words...and the Army Air Corps (your predcessor helped win the big deuce...one he'll I# a war.

Remember this: "Nuke'em til they glow! Eat the burned flesh! Pluck out their eyeballs and use them for runway lights! SACIMCISE them!"

I was a mustang major enjoying my work and planning to stay past the 30 year mark if I made Lt Col, After surviving the first of McP's 'Mustang Murder boards" (prior enlisted officer Selective Early Retirement Board) and getting word of a second one coming, I decided that it wasn't worth staying around and put in my papers. I sure wish Gen Mike Dugan had learned to keep his mouth shut. He had probably the shortest tenure as AF CoS.

TSgt LaPointe look on the bright side, McPeak gave us cool now uniforms that made us look like United Airlines pilots!

Col Lyman Faith, I do like the new uniform coat better. I miss the big embroidered Mess Dress insignia and badges. And I miss TAC, MAC, ATC, but not SAC... LOL :D