Air Force Ball scheduled for September 18

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  • By 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  In celebration of the U.S. Air Force's 63rd birthday, the 7th Air Force Ball committee will host the Air Force Ball September 18 at the Lotte World Hotel in Seoul.

The Air Force Ball is an annual service-wide tradition to celebrate the heritage and history of the Air Force since it was officially established as a separate service under the National Security Act of 1947.

On July 26, 1947, while aboard the presidential C-54 aircraft, Sacred Cow, President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, officially establishing the United States Air Force as a separate service under the National Military Establishment (renamed in 1949 the Department of Defense). The Act set out requirements for the Air Force that "it shall be organized, trained and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. The Air Force shall be responsible for the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peacetime components of the Air Force to meet the needs of war."

On the same day he signed the National Security Act, President Truman signed Executive Order 9877 assigning the primary functions and responsibilities of the armed forces. The United States Air Force was charged to organize, train and equip air forces for air operations including joint operations; to gain and maintain general air superiority; to establish local air superiority where and as required; to develop a strategic air force and conduct strategic air reconnaissance operations; to provide airlift and support for airborne operations; to furnish air support to land and naval forces including support of occupation forces; and to provide air transport for the armed forces except as provided by the Navy for its own use.

The "Air Force Birthday" celebrates the day Stuart Symington was sworn in as the first Secretary of the Air Force by Chief Justice Fred Vinson on Sept. 18, 1947, establishing the United States Air Force as truly an independent arm of the U.S. military.

The theme for this year's Air Force Ball is the "60th Anniversary of the Korean War," which focuses on the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

The event will feature a cake cutting ceremony, a live jazz band, dancing and ceremonies held by the Osan honor guard.

Social hour will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner starting at 7 p.m. Following the dinner, there will be dancing until midnight.

The appropriate attire for this occasion is mess dress for officers, and mess dress or semi-formal attire for enlisted. Civilians may dress in semi-formal attire.

The cost for the event is $25 for E-1 through E-6, and $50 for E-7 and above, per person.
For general information on the Air Force Ball, call 784-1656. For tickets, contact your group representative.

(Information from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force contributed to this article.)