An F-35 Lightning II completes a series of night flights, testing the ability to fly the jet safely in instrument meteorological conditions where the pilot has no external visibility references.
The U.S. Air Force continues to play an important role in giving ground and amphibious forces the flexibility to attack and a means to escape enemy fire.
"Since the Korean War, this nation has deployed about 7 million men and women at arms to different contingencies around the world," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said in December of 2013, according to the Department of Defense.
Since its founding on September 18th 1947, the U.S. Air Force is the world's leading force of its kind, with one of the highest budgets of the four branches and the most expensive acquisition in military history currently in its grasp.
To celebrate America's airmen we've selected some of the most incredible photos ever captured by Air Force photographers.
Geoffrey Ingersoll contributed to this report.