Editing United States Air Force (section)

=== Conflicts ===
[[File:Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (modified).jpg|thumb|The [[SR-71 Blackbird]] was a [[Cold War]] [[reconnaissance plane]].]]
[[File:F-117 Nighthawk Front.jpg|thumb|The [[F-117 Nighthawk]] was a [[stealth aircraft|stealth]] attack aircraft (sectional retirement from combat service in April 2008).]]

The United States Air Force has been involved in many wars, conflicts and operations using military air operations. The USAF possesses the lineage and heritage of its predecessor organizations, which played a pivotal role in U.S. military operations since 1907:
* [[Pancho Villa Expedition|Mexican Expedition]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force |url=https://media.defense.gov/2010/Oct/06/2001329754/-1/-1/0/AFD-101006-029.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050710/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Oct/06/2001329754/-1/-1/0/AFD-101006-029.pdf |archive-date=5 October 2017 |access-date=4 October 2017}}</ref> as [[Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps]]
* [[World War I]]<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |date=2007-07-01 |title=AFPAM 36-2241, Professional Development Guide |url=https://www.afmentor.com/docs/afpam36-2241.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116165611/http://www.afmentor.com/docs/afpam36-2241.pdf |archive-date=2021-11-16 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=afmentor.com}}</ref> as [[Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps]] and [[United States Army Air Service]]
* [[World War II]]<ref name="autogenerated1" /> as [[United States Army Air Forces]]
* [[Cold War]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/705059/the-us-air-force-during-the-cold-war/|title=The US Air Force During the Cold War|website=afhistory.af.mil|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.defense.gov/News/Inside-DOD/Blog/article/2062719/the-berlin-airlift-what-it-was-its-importance-in-the-cold-war/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210923235345/https://www.defense.gov/News/Inside-DOD/Blog/Article/2062719/the-berlin-airlift-what-it-was-its-importance-in-the-cold-war/|url-status= dead|archive-date= 23 September 2021|title=The Berlin Airlift: What It Was, Its Importance in the Cold War|last=Lange|first=Katie|date=June 25, 2018|website=[[United States Department of Defense]]|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0712coldwar/|title=End of the Cold War Air Force|last=Grant|first=Rebecca|date=July 1, 2012|website=Air & Space Forces Magazine|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Korean War]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/1681704/the-us-air-force-and-army-in-korea-how-army-decisions-limited-airpower-effectiv/|title=The U.S. Air Force and Army in Korea: How Army Decisions Limited Airpower Effectiveness|last=Bingham|first=Price|date=November 5, 2018|website=ndupress.ndu.edu|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/air-war-over-korea-lessons-for-todays-airmen/|title=Air War Over Korea: Lessons for today's Airmen|last=Birkey|first=Douglas|date=August 12, 2022|website=Air & Space Forces Magazine|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Vietnam War]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.afhistoryandmuseums.af.mil/Commemorations/50th-Vietnam/#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20Air%20Force,operations%20in%20the%20early%201970s.|title=50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War|website=afhistoryandmuseums.af.mil|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/the-air-force-enters-the-vietnam-war/|title=The Air Force Enters the Vietnam War|last=Correll|first=John|date=May 5, 2022}}</ref>
** [[Contemporary Historical Examination of Current Operations]] (CHECO)
* [[Operation Eagle Claw]] (1980 Iranian hostage rescue)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/08/19/desert-one-documentary-chronicles-challenges-lessons-of-operation-eagle-claw/|title=Desert One documentary chronicles challenges, lessons of Operation Eagle Claw|last=Correll|first=Diane|date=August 19, 2020|website=MilitaryTimes.com|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.militarytimes.com/opinion/commentary/2020/04/24/this-is-what-special-ops-learned-40-years-ago-from-operation-eagle-claw/|title=This is what special ops learned 40 years ago from Operation Eagle Claw|last=Lamb|first=Richard|date=April 24, 2020|website=MilitaryTimes.com|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Operation Urgent Fury]] (1983 US invasion of Grenada)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.forces.net/usa/urgent-fury-operation-led-shake-us-military|title=Urgent Fury: the operation that led to a shake-up of the U.S. Military|date=October 26, 2021|website=forces.net|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.warhistoryonline.com/cold-war/urgent-fury-invasion-grenada.html?andro=1|title=Operation Urgent Fury: The 1983 US Invasion of Grenada|last=Budanovic|first=Nikola|date=May 8, 2018|website=War History Online|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Bombing of Libya (1986)|Operation El Dorado Canyon]] (1986 US Bombing of Libya)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://themobilityforum.net/2020/09/09/mobility-operations-global-reach-and-operation-el-dorado-canyon-the-1986-strike-on-libya/|title=Mobility Operations: Global Reach and Operation El Dorado Canyon – The 1986 Strike on Libya|last=Mulligan|first=Terance|website=themobilityforum.net|date=9 September 2020 |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
* [[United States invasion of Panama|Operation Just Cause]] (1989–1990 US invasion of Panama)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.military.com/history/how-operation-just-cause-us-invasion-of-panama-ousted-dictator.html|title=How Operation Just Cause, the US invasion of Panama, ousted a dictator|last=Stilwell|first=Blake|website=Military.com|date=31 January 2023 |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Gulf War]] (1990–1991)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/why-us-air-force-dominated-gulf-war-196396|title=Why the U.S. Air Force Dominated in the Gulf War|last=Osborn|first=Kris|date=November 18, 2021|website=nationalinterest.org|access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
** Operation Desert Shield (1990–1991)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/458965/1991-operation-desert-shielddesert-storm/|title=1991 – Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm|website=afhistory.af.mil|publisher=Air Force Historical Support Division|access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
** Operation Desert Storm (1991)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2879147/nation-observes-anniversary-of-operation-desert-storm/|title=Nation Observes Anniversary of Operation Desert Storm|last=Vergun|first=David|date=January 15, 2022|website=[[United States Department of Defense]]|access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Operation Southern Watch]] (1992–2003 Iraq no-fly zone)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://theaviationist.com/2015/02/17/the-story-of-one-of-the-largest-air-strikes-conducted-by-u-s-and-british-jets-in-iraq-during-osw/|title=The Story of one of the largest air strikes conducted by U.S. and British jets in Iraq during OSW|website=theaviationist.com|date=17 February 2015 |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Operation Deliberate Force]] (1995 NATO bombing in Bosnia and Herzegovina)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/1097deliberate/|title=Operation Deliberate Force – Air & Space Forces Magazine|website=airandspaceforces.com|date=October 1, 1997|last=Tirpak|first=John|access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Operation Northern Watch]] (1997–2003 Iraq no-fly zone)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/over-the-no-fly-zone-142135016/|title=Over the No-Fly Zone|last=Gordon|first=Randy|date=September 21, 2009|website=Smithsonianmag.com|access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Operation Desert Fox]] (1998 bombing of Iraq)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cfr.org/blog/operation-desert-fox-useful-comparison-bombing-iran|title=Is Operation Desert Fox a Useful Comparison for Bombing Iran?|last=Zenko|first=Micah|date=April 15, 2015|website=cfr.org|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/iraq/analysis.htm|title=The Difference Was in the Details|last=Arkin|first=William|date=January 17, 1999|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/iraq/mmedia/statements121798.htm|title=Operation Desert Fox Strikes Again|date=December 17, 1998|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Operation Allied Force]] (1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/operation-allied-force-how-airpower-won-the-war-for-kosovo/|title=Operation Allied Force – Air & Space Forces Magazine|last=Sayers|first=William|date=April 16, 2019|website=Air & Space Forces Magazine|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Afghanistan War]] (2001–2021)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-war-afghanistan|title=Timeline: The U.S. War in Afghanistan|website=cfr.org|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3144426/one-year-later-historic-afghan-airlift-inspires-pride-and-reflection-across-the/|title=One year later, historic Afghan airlift inspires pride and reflection across the Air Force|last=Pope|first=Charles|date=August 30, 2022|website=af.mil|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/13/us/politics/military-clears-crew-afghan-evacuation.html|title=Military Clears Crew of Plane That Took Flight as Afghans Fell to Their Deaths|last=Cooper|first=Helene|date=June 13, 2022|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
** [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] (2001–2014)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article-View/Article/576922/after-13-years-operation-enduring-freedom-concludes-in-afghanistan/|title=After 13 years, Operation Enduring Freedom concludes in Afghanistan|date=December 29, 2014|website=NationalGuard.mil|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref>
** [[Operation Freedom's Sentinel]] (2015–2021)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/12/29/amid-confusion-dod-names-new-mission-operation-freedoms.html|title=Amid Confusion, DoD Names New Mission Operation Freedom's Sentinel|last=Sisk|first=Richard|date=December 29, 2014|website=Military.com|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Iraq War]] (2003–2011)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/09/21/the_us_air_forces_vital_role_in_iraq_and_afghanistan_112341.html|title=The U.S. Air Force's Vital Role in Iraq and Afghanistan|last=Muralidharan|first=Rathna|date=September 21, 2017|website=realcleardefense.com|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cfr.org/timeline/iraq-war|title=Timeline: The Iraq War|website=cfr.org|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref>
** [[Iraq War#2003: Invasion|Operation Iraqi Freedom]] (2003–2010)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0313iraqi/|title=Iraqi Freedom and the Air Force|last=Grant|first=Rebecca|date=March 1, 2013|website=Air & Space Forces Magazine|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref>
** [[Iraq War#2010: US drawdown and Operation New Dawn|Operation New Dawn]] (2010–2011)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Article/220080/us-air-force-role-transitions-to-operation-new-dawn/|title=U.S. Air Force role transitions to Operation New Dawn|date=September 1, 2010|website=afcent.af.mil|publisher=Air Force Central|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cnn.com/2013/10/30/world/meast/operation-iraqi-freedom-and-operation-new-dawn-fast-facts/index.html|title=Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn Fast Facts|date=April 1, 2022|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Operation Odyssey Dawn]] (2011 Libyan no-fly zone)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/1211libya/|title=Lessons from Libya|date=December 1, 2011|last=Tirpak|first=John|website=Air & Space Forces Magazine|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/us-forces-lead-attack-against-libya-in-operation-audacity-dawn|title=U.S. Forces lead Attack Against Libya in Operation New Dawn|date=March 19, 2011|website=PBS |access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/19/operation-odyssey-dawn-tomahawks-libya|title=Operation Odyssey Dawn commences to end Gaddafi onslaught on Benghazi|last=Townsend|first=Mark|date=March 19, 2011|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Operation Inherent Resolve]] (2014–present: intervention against the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://warontherocks.com/2021/08/from-forever-wars-to-great-power-wars-lessons-learned-from-operation-inherent-resolve/|title=From Forever Wars to Great Power Wars: Lessons Learned From Operation Inherent Resolve|last=Pettyjohn|first=Stacie|date=August 20, 2021|website=War on the Rocks|access-date=January 15, 2024}}</ref>

In addition since the USAF dwarfs all other U.S. and allied air components, it often provides support for allied forces in conflicts to which the United States is otherwise not involved, such as the [[Operation Serval|2013 French campaign in Mali]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=USAF to help transport French troops to Mali. |url=http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2013/01/air-force-helps-transport-french-troops-mali-011713/ |access-date=1 April 2015 |website=airforcetimes.com}}</ref>