Postmark commemorates Air Force Reserve 60th anniversary

The cancellation stamp to be used by the U.S. Postal Service to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Air Force Reserve.The stamp will be used from April 14 to June 14, 2008 at the Marietta, Ga., Post Office. (US Air Force Graphic/Maj. Todd Copley)

Celebrating 60 years

Ed Hamill performs a slow pass in front of the crowd during Aviation Nation Air Show Nov. 10, 2007, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. This year's show commemorated 60 years of airpower and was the capstone event of the Air Force's yearlong 60th anniversary celebration. Mr. Hamill is an Air Force Reserve major and a civilian contractor who flies the "Dream Team" in support of Reserve recruiting. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Robert W. Valenca)

Air Force Reserve drops soldiers over Iraq.

March 2003 - Air Force Reserve drops US Army paratroopers to secure an airfield in northern Iraq: Kurdish militiamen and US special operations troops linked up with more than 1000 US Army paratroopers to secure the area around a strategic air strip, as the first large coalition ground force in northern Iraq began opening another front against Saddam Hussein's regime. Army Rangers, jumped out of low-flying C-17 transport planes under cover of darkness and secured a snow-dusted airfield to bring in supplies and support personnel. The airdrop was one of the biggest paratroop drops in decades.

Reserve Airmen are warriors in the fight.

The Air Force Reserve, as part of the "Total Force" has adopted a "warrior ethos." The reserve component is increasingly becoming an integrated, operational force, fighting alongside active-duty and National Guard Airmen around the world. Each Airman must adopt a warrior's way of life, as described in Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley's "Warrior Creed."

Air Force Reserve weapons loaders arm A-10.

At Tallil Air Base, Iraq, Air Force Reserve weapons loaders Tech. Sgt Monty Mikle and Master Sgt. Jay Haas, 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., repack an AGM-65 Maverick missile on the flightline during Operation Enduring Freedom. An awaiting A-10 Thunderbolt II is armed with Mavericks and Mk-82 250-pound bombs.

Air Force Reserve flys, fights, wins over Afghanistan.

Oct. 7, 2001 -- Air Force Reserve fighters and tankers flew in to fight in support of Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan. Here, a Reserve Airman assigned to the 466th Fighter Squadron boards an F-16C fighter plane at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Americans carried safely home from Lebanon on Air Force Reserve C-17s.

July 23, 2006 - After fighting broke out in Lebanon, Air Force Reserve airlift crews helped evacuate Americans from Cyprus to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and then on to the United States. Here, Americans departing from Lebanon deboard one C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Ramstein, to board another bound for the United States. (US Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall)

An Air Force Reserve of O.N.E.

20 Dec 2001 - More than 11,000 Air Force Reservists and individual mobilization augmentees (IMAs) were recalled to active duty as part of America's anti-terrorism campaign in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom. Here, an F-15C Eagle assigned to the 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard refuels from an Air Force Reserve Command KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft, during a Combat Air Patrol mission over Central Florida during ONE.

C-17 makes its first South Pole airdrop with AF Reserve aircrews.

Dec. 20, 2006 - A C-17 Globemaster III, flown by Air Force Reserve aircrews, made its debut airdrop of cargo pallets to the South Pole, Antarctica, in support of Operation Deep Freeze. Reservists from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., delivered 70 tons of supplies to the National Science Foundation team wintering there. The mission was a "proof of concept" flight for the C-17 and was part of Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica's Operation Deep Freeze. (Raytheon Inc. photo / Forest Banks)

Air Force Reserve becomes a Major Command.

Feb. 17, 1997 - The Air Force Reserve was redesignated as Air Force Reserve Command, becoming the Air Force's ninth major command. This resulted from the Air Force's increasing reliance on its reserve components during the 1990?s. The fiscal 1997 National Defense Authorization Act directed each of the military services to establish "reserve commands." Title XII, Reserve Forces Revitalization, Section 10174, instructed the Secretary of the Air Force to establish an "Air Force Reserve Command."

Reserve C-17 brings food to Albanians.

Feb. 1992 - Sept. 1994 -- Air Force Reservists delivered tons of food and life-sustaining supplies to the 11 nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States in support of Operation Provide Hope. Here, a C-17 from Charleston Air Force Base, N.C. taxis for departure to Albania.

Reserve C-5 responds to Hurricane Andrew disaster.

Aug. 23, 1992 - Hurricane Andrew severely damaged Homestead Air Force Base, Fla. Three days later, Air Force Reserve aircraft and crews began airlifting desperately needed equipment and supplies into southern Florida.

Starving Somalians spell "Relief" A-F-R-E-S.

Aug. 21, 1992 - Feb. 28, 1993 -- Air Force Reserve airlift units participated in Operation Provide Relief/Provide Hope, a massive airlift of food and medical supplies to millions of starving Somalians. Eighteen Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130s flew 20 missions per day from Moi International Airport to war-torn Somalia for Operation Provide Relief.

Desert Storm draws more than 38,000 Reserve Airmen to active duty.

August 1990 ? April 1991 ? Nearly 23,500 Air Force Reservists were mobilized in support of Operation Desert Storm. Another 15,000 served in volunteer capacities. Here, a reservist assigned to the 440th Tactical Airlift Wing, Milwaukee, Wisc. guards the flight line.

Rescue squadron saves lives at Mt. St. Helens.

May 18-28, 1980 -- The 304th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Portland International Airport, Ore., flew 111 sorties around Mt. St. Helens, saving 61 lives. Other Air Force Reserve units contributed aircraft, maintenance, and communications assistance.

First Reserve F-105 lands at Tinker AFB.

May 20, 1972 -- Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., welcomes the Air Force Reserve's first F-105 "Thunderchief" jet fighter-bomber, assigned to the 507th Tactical Fighter Group. Here, shown in the maintenance portion of the 1977 Operational Readiness Inspection there.

A 934th Tactical Airlift Group C-130E flys airlift missions for Operation Just Cause, Panama.

Dec. 1989 - Air Force Reserve units fly in Operation Just Cause, a mission to ensure protection of Americans and US resources, airlifting passengers and cargo to Panama. Aeromedical, special operations, and aerial refueling units also participated.

First jet-powered aircraft assigned to AFRES in 23 years..

July 1970 -- The Air Force Reserve's 930th Special Operations Group, Grissom Air Force Base, Ind., receives its first A-37, the first Reserve jet aircraft since the F-86 left the inventory in 1957.

First Reserve C-5 introduced.

Dec 1, 1984 -- The Air Force Reserve introduces the first Reserve C-5 Galaxy, assigned to the 433d Military Airlift Wing, in a ceremony at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas.

Charleston Reservists evacuate victims of violence from Guyana mission.

Nov. 19 - Dec. 22, 1978 -- Two HC-130Ns and 38 Reserve aircrew members, medics, and aerial porters from Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Charleston Air Force Base, S. C., Dover AFB, Del. and Westover AFB, Mass. evacuated survivors and victims from Georgetown, Guyana, after violence broke out at the People's Temple Agricultural Mission in Jonestown.

C-5 associate unit inagurated.

1 April 1973 Air Force Reserve inaugurates a C-5 associate unit with the 301st Military Airlift Squadron, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

Reservists mobilize for Pueblo incident

Members of the 302nd AARS in the mobilization line on Jan. 26, 1968. Five C-124 military airlift groups and one HC-97 aerospace rescue and recovery squadron were mobilized in the wake of the Pueblo Incident.

452nd Bomb Wing in Korean War

B-26 bombers from the 452nd Bomb Wing taxi at a southern Japan base in June 1951. From 1950-1953, more than 147,000 Reservists were mobilized to augment the active duty. Both the 452nd BW, Long Beach Municpal Airport, Calif., and the 437th Troop Carrier Wing, O?Hare International Airport, Ill., saw extensive combat service in Korea.

Standing down after Cuban Missile Crisis

The 512th Troop Carrier Wing forms on the fightline at Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa. in 1962, following demobilization from deployment to southern Florida in support of exercise Sun Shade II. Eight Air Force Reserve flying wings deployed to Florida to provide ready response to the mounting Cuban Missile Crisis. Initially slated slated for one year, the deployment ended early after only one month of active duty.