14 Things You Didn’t Know About the Air Force

The United States Air Force was founded in 1947, and its primary purpose is to protect and defend the country from airborne threats. The men and women who are enlisted in the Air Force are very brave. They complete a number of functions, from flying planes to creating supercomputers. If you're like us, you're very proud of the work that the people in the Air Force do every day, but how much do you really know about this important branch of the military? That's what you'll find out today when we talk about the 14 things you didn't know about the Air Force.

There's a lot of fun facts to learn about the Air Force, such as the fact that personnel in this branch were the first to travel at the speed of sound. There are also likely many definitions you didn't know, like what an "ace" pilot is or what is meant by a "roof stomp." You'll also likely be amazed to learn how many famous actors, authors, and politicians are all Air Force veterans. There are even some fun facts about Air Force One, the president's plane.

To determine the 14 things you didn't know about the Air Force, 24/7 Tempo scoured the internet and referenced many historical and military sources, including North Central Institute, The American Legion, Popular Mechanics, and more. We believe you'll be amazed at some of the accomplishments of this military branch. (If you're interested in learning more about the military and famous battles, check out this list of the most famous invasions in world history.)

One thing you likely didn't know about the Air Force is that the military branch was created on the same day as the Central Intelligence Agency, or the CIA. They were both part of the National Security Act of Sept. 18, 1947. The CIA is known as the "Nation's First Line of Defense," and their job is to ensure the country's national security. The job of the United States Air Force is to use air power to defend the country and to fight off potential attacks.

Back in August 1907, the U.S. Army created an Aeronautical Division to help protect the nation via the skies. Over time, that branch would become the Air Force. In 1947, an independent Air Force as we know it today was created as a part of the National Defense Act.

There are various celebrities who have served with pride in the United States Air Force. Two of the most noteworthy actors include Morgan Freeman ("Seven" and "The Shawshank Redemption") and Jimmy Stewart ("It's a Wonderful Life" and "Rear Window"). Other Air Force celebrities include fighter Chuck Norris, singer Johnny Cash, author Hunter S. Thompson, astronaut James Irwin, and Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the show "Star Trek." Perhaps one of the most interesting Air Force veterans is Theodore Geisel, who is otherwise known as author Dr. Seuss.

It's no surprise that many politicians of today and yesterday have served in the armed forces, and many were in the Air Force. Two presidents, George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, served in the Air Force. Many congressmen were also in the Air Force, including:

• Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska
• Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania
• Rep. Bill Johnson of Ohio
• Rep. Ted Lieu of California
• Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia
• Rep. Anna Luna of Florida
• Rep. Zachary Nunn of Iowa
• Rep. August Pfluger of Texas
• Rep. Chris Stewart of Utah

You likely wouldn't know this unless you were actually enlisted in the Air Force, but they have a very loud tradition. Whenever a new commander comes on the scene, the airmen celebrate with a "roof stomp." It's as it sounds. The airmen will converge on the new commander's home and stomp on the roof while others bang on the doors and the windows. It's one of the warmest welcomes that someone can get.

Something you likely didn't know about the Air Force, especially if you don't have kids, is that they help to track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. More specifically, it is NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) that tells kids where Santa is as he travels the globe handing out presents. This has been a tradition since 1955 and will likely remain for years to come. This tradition is so popular that there are many apps that you can download on your cell phone. It is a wonderful treat for kids with big imaginations.

When most people think about people in the Air Force, they likely assume that a majority of the people there are pilots. However, the fact is that only 4% of everyone in this branch of the armed forces is a pilot. So, what are the rest doing? Many are intelligence officers, others are civil engineers. A good number of the people in the Air Force are in leadership positions that help the missions go off with as few issues as possible. There are also many people who maintain the planes and other equipment.

Some of the brightest minds in America are enlisted in the Air Force, including many computer science majors and engineers. They're so bright they can make a computer out of almost anything. One of their most impressive accomplishments is that they built a supercomputer that can analyze satellite imagery. What makes it so amazing is that the computer called the Condor Cluster is made up exclusively of 1760 Playstation 3 game consoles. Talk about bringing your gaming to the next level.

One of the many responsibilities of the Air Force is to assist with the maintenance and operation of Air Force One. When most people hear that name, they think that it's the official name of the plane that the president of the United States rides from place to place. Actually, it's technically not a specific plane. In reality, it's what Air Force personnel call any plane that is actually carrying the president. It's easier to report about the president's plane over the radio when they can refer to any plane as Air Force One.

Something you likely didn't know about the Air Force is that, like the other military branches, they have their own official colors. In this case, it's blue and yellow. Blue stands for the sky, and yellow stands for the sun. The yellow also stands for the excellence required of all personnel. For a bonus fact, the official colors of the Army are blue and white, and the official colors of the Navy are blue with white canton. It's interesting that blue is a color that ties them all together.

The men of the Air Force are very proud of the veterans who have put their lives on the line for their country. One of those legends was Vietnam and WWII veteran Brig. Gen. Robin Olds. In addition to his amazing record, he was also famous for his thick mustache. Every year, the enlisted airmen participate in a tradition called Mustache March in his honor. They each grow thick mustaches of their own to commemorate the memory.

One thing you likely didn't know about the Air Force is the definition of an "ace" pilot. Many people believe that is just a good pilot. However, it actually refers to combat pilots. Any pilot who has shot down five or more enemy aircrafts is considered to be an ace. The top ace pilot of all time is Joseph C. McConnell, who shot down 16 fighters over a four-month period during the Korean War.

Another fact you likely didn't know about the Air Force is how many inventions they had a hand in creating. One of them is the GPS that you use in your car or on your smartphone. They also created the first drones. The Air Force is also responsible for creating the pressurized airplane cabins that allow you to fly across the country on commercial flights.

During the very first year that the United States Air Force was in operation, Capt. Chuck Yeager was able to accomplish the impossible by breaking the sound barrier. He did so in a Bell X-1 rocket-powered aircraft. The speed of sound is 343 meters per second, or the equivalent of about 767 mph. It's hard to imagine that type of speed, but it was accomplished over 50 years ago. (Interested in other amazing feats? Then check out this list of the 10 biggest aviation breakthroughs in history.)