United States Army Air Force

USAAF is an abbreviation of United States Army Air Force, which formally existed between 1941 and 1947.

Prior to the start of WWII, the USAAF was known as the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). The USAAC was a corps-level, subsidiary organization within the Army, and had little bureaucratic autonomy. Due to the efforts of several key USAAC officers and the changing political times, the Air Corps obtained greater organizational independence in 1941. Renamed the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) and considered a separate arm of the Army, the new USAAF had an equal "voice" with the Army and Navy.

Following the immense buildup in aviation infrastructure and personnel during the war, and in recognition of the tremendous new importance and strength of airpower, President Truman created the United States Department of the Air Force in 1947. This legislation renamed this storied aviation military group once again, to the modern title United States Air Force (USAF)-- a truly separate branch of the United States armed forces.