Welcome to Air & Space Forces, the magazine of the Air & Space Forces Association. The birth of the Space Force in 2019, like that of the Air Force in 1947, reset the stage in national security affairs and the reverberations will continue for years to come. In April, after more than 76 years as the Air Force Association, AFA became the Air & Space Forces Association, elevating space in our title in recognition of our equal support for and commitment to the advancement of space power along with air power, and our belief that the two, while distinct, have clear and indelible links. First published as “Air Force Magazine” in December 1942 as an official military publication at the behest of the Chief of Army Air Forces Gen. Henry H. “Hap” Arnold, the magazine predates AFA by three years. Arnold wanted a magazine that could tell the story of the Army Air Forces not to itself, but ultimately to the American people. That remains our mission today. Changing the title of a storied publication—and association—is not something to be taken lightly. A title must define who we are and what we’re about. Air & Space Forces Magazine does the job.
B-52s touch down frequently at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., but the one that landed Sept. 30 looked a little different. Sporting bright orange paint on the cockpit, wing tips, engine nacelles, and tail, the Stratofortress seemed dressed for an early start to hunting season in Louisiana; in fact, the special…