Welcome to US Airpower 60, the latest in Belmont International’s 21st Century Defense series of military publications.

September 2007 will see the 60th Anniversary of the US Air Force, however the actual beginning of US military aviation began almost 100 years ago. In 1907, President Teddy Roosevelt, impressed by the Wright Brothers first flight instructed that the Ordinance and Procurement Department investigate the possible use of these machines for military use, and this led to Signal Corps Specification 486 being advertised nationally for bids and on February 1, 1908 a contract was signed with the Wright Brothers to purchase the Wright Flyer. This was known as Aircraft Number 1. From this small beginning we find ourselves celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the US Air Force.

In October 2006 the awe inspiring USAF Memorial was dedicated at Arlington, Virginia. The soaring arcs designed by architect John Freed serve as a tangible and poignant tribute to the hundreds of thousands of Air Force personnel that have worn the Air Force blue and to the more than 54,000 Airmen that have died in combat.

In the almost one hundred years of US Military aviation to the founding of the modern Air Force
60 years ago, the qualities demanded of our men and later women have demonstrated the three core values of the modern Air Force; ‘Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do’. From WWI dogfights to OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and all conflicts and deployments past and present, we give our thanks to them for their service.

I am delighted and honored to offer US Airpower 60 as a tribute to the US Air Force and our congratulations on this it’s 60th Anniversary.

Peter Ward
Publisher