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As preparation for your entry into the Air Force, this section will introduce the Air Force mission and their evolution, the machines and technology associated with air and space flight and most importantly, the legacy of the men and women of the United States Air Force. By surveying the history of aviation, you will discover our heritage, appreciate Air Force traditions, and understand your role in our nation's defense. This United States Air Force Historical Perspective is by Dr. John T. Farquhar from the United States Air Force Academy Department of History and contributing editor George W. Bradley III, the Air Force Space Command Historian. The enlisted portions of this document were provided by the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute's historian, Mr. William I. Chivalette. Dr. John Q. Smith, Senior Air Force Historian, assisted with additional editing.