The Secretary of the Air Force is the civilian head of the Department of the Air Force and reports to the Secretary of Defense.

The United States Air Force is a branch of the U.S. armed forces responsible for aerial warfare, space warfare, and cyber warfare. It was initially part of the U.S. Army and was formed as a separate branch in 1947.

The United States Air Force, like the US Coast Guard, has two distinctive flags. One is a flag use at all air bases and establishments; the other is a military standard for use on ceremonial occasions.

Thus far there has only been one five-star General of the Air Force. During World War II the rank was held by General Hap Arnold.

Known as the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)

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The 1st FW descends from the 1st Pursuit Group of the US Army Air Corps, and its emblem is an adaptation of the previous Army-style coat of arms. The 1st FW is part of the active Air Force, flying F-15C fighters. Its assigned squadrons include the famous 94th--the "Hat in the Ring" squadron of WW I fame.

Organizational Flag, 129th Rescue Wing. The 129th RW is a unit of the California Air National Guard. It has two flying squadrons, one with C-130 tanker aircraft and one with HH-60 rescue helicopters. It began life as a transport unit, later converting to the combat rescue role. The 129th regularly flies rescue missions in the US and overseas, and it is credited with saving nearly 300 lives.

Color, Commanding General, U.S. Army Air Forces: Five general officers of the Army were authorized silk colors--the General of the Armies (Pershing), the Chief of Staff, the CG Army Ground Forces, the CG Army Service Forces and the CG Army Air Forces. For the latter, the field of the color was ultramarine blue. The shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) for Army Air Forces was centered on the color, but with its ultramarine blue disk invisible against the field of the flag. On either side of the insignia were two white stars to denote the CG's four-star rank. The CG, USAAAF was General H.H. "Hap" Arnold. Dimensions for this flag were 4 feet 4 inches at the hoist by 5 feet 6 inches on the fly.

Field and Boat Flag, General Officer HQ USAAF Staff: Generals on the staff of HQ USAAF were authorized a field and boat flag of wool bunting with the SSI for Army Air Forces centered and white stars according to rank. Like the color of the CG, USAAF, this flag's field was ultramarine blue with the USAAF SSI centered, its blue disk invisible against the field of the flag. One star was placed on either side of the SSI for a major general and one above the insignia for a brigadier general.

The Eighth Air Force, based in the UK, carried the main burden of the U.S. strategic air offensive against Germany. Its flag consisted of horizontal stripes of ultramarine blue and golden orange, with the Eighth AF shoulder sleeve insignia centered. The flags were made of wool bunting with dimensions of 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly.

Distinguishing Flag, 67th Fighter Wing: On a field of golden orange, the unit name and number were applied in ultramarine blue. The flags were made of wool bunting with dimensions of 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly.

Organizational Standard, 8th Pursuit Group: The Group was the color-bearing unit of the Army Air Corps. AAC Groups were classed as mounted/mechanized units and so they had a silk standard with dimensions of 3 feet at the hoist by 4 feet on the fly with 2 1/2-inch fringe. The field was ultramarine blue; fringe and piping were golden orange. Pursuit groups were retitled "fighter groups" later in the war, but existing standards were not replaced until they wore out. In most respects these standards were identical to contemporary U.S. Army organizational colors.

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. It is a volunteer organization that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and occupations. It has three missions: 1. emergency services, which includes search and rescue and disaster relief operations, 2. Public education about air and space programs, and 3. a cadet programs for teenage youth.

The United States Air Force Academy is a military academy for officer candidates of the United States Air Force. Its campus is located just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado. It's first class graduated in 1959, making it the newest official military academy for the military branches. The Academy´s stated mission is "to educate, train, and inspire men and women to become officers of character, motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our nation."

These guidons are used by the cadet squadrons of the U.S. Air Force Academy. They are divided horizontally, silver-gray over blue, with the initials "AFCW" for Air Force Cadet Wing in blue letters on the upper portion and the squadron number (1 through 40) in silver-gray letters on the lower portion.

These new style flags are not official, but they are widely used by both civilian and military personal, including on Air Force recruitment materials. The logo seems to have become the un-official logo of the Air Force replacing the old Hap Arnold wings traditional to the Air Force.

The Air Force 60th Anniversary flag was raised for the first time March 1, 2007, at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virgina. The ceremony was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Secretary of the Air.