USAFA Beginnings Scrapbook

1948

New York Journal American Editorial Advocating the Creation of an Air Force Academy

1954

"The cover of the 1954 brochure prepared by the Colorado Springs committee to bring the Academy to the city. Representatives of 580 proposed locations in forty-five states presented similar materials for consideration by the Site Selection Commission."

"President Eisenhower, after signing the Academy Bill on April 1, 1954, congratulates Secretary Talbott. Looking on are Congressman Vinson, General Twining, Congressman Short, Undersecretary of the Air Force Douglas, and General Harmon."

Colorado Newspapers Announcing the Award of the Air Force Academy to Colorado Springs

"Signing of General Order No. 1, activating the Air Force Academy Command, 14 August 1954, in the office of Brigadier General John T. Sprague, Commander, Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado

"Seated, Lieutenant General H. R. Harmon, Superintendent Standing, left to right: Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert C. Cooke, Ass't. Personnel Officer, USAFA Brigadier General Don Z. Zimmerman, Dean of Faculty, USAFA Brigadier General John T. Sprague, Commander Lowry AFB."

HQ USAFA, General Order No. 1

1955

          Original USAFA Site     

Model of the Original Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill Design

"This architectural concept shows the style and arrangements of the key bulldings of the Cadet Academic area of the U.S. Air Force Academy seven miles north of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Cadet area occupies the northeast corner of the 17,500 acre site. Upper left is the peaked, modern chapel, elevated above all other buildings in the area. Clockwise from the Chapel are the Administration Building, Cadet Social Center, Cadet Quarters, Academic Buildings, and Dining Hall. This view, looking northwest toward the Rampart Range of mountains does not include the Physical Education Building north of the Cadet Quarters or the hospital slightly south of this area. The architectural concepts were prepared by the architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill." (OFFICIAL U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO, RELEASED BY DEPT. OF DEFENSE, May 1955)

Close-up of Cadet Social Center and Chapel, May 1955

"This is the latest model of a part of the U.S. Air Force Academy which will be constructed 12 miles north of Colorado Springs, Colo. All building plans, except those of the chapel, have approval of Air Force Secretary Donald A. Quarles. Buildings shown here, from the chapel, upper left, and clockwise are the cadet administration building, cadet social center and cadet quarters." (AP Wirephoto, April 24, 1956)

"Model of buildings for the Air Force Academy to be built near Colorado Springs is pointed out by Air Secretary Donald A. Quarles. He has approved plans for all buildings except the chapel, which will occupy the site marked by the rectangular block below Quarles’ hand." (April 25, 1956)

Congressional Record entry featuring an
Air Force Academy Dedication poem, 6 July 1955

Los Angeles Times spread previewing the
new Air Force Academy, 10 July 1955

Graphic Commemorating the the Air Force Academy Dedication, 11 July 1955

Rocky Mountain News Front Page covering the Air Force Academy Dedication, 11 July 1955

Air Force Academy Dedication Ceremony 11 July 1955

Air Force Academy Dedication Ceremony and Activities, 9-11 July 1955

Val Bourque, the first cadet to be sworn in at the Air Force Academy on 11 July 1955. Originally a member of the Class of 1959, he graduated with the Class of 1960 and was the first Academy graduate KIA in Vietnam, October 1964

Class of 1959: Day One

Air Force Academy Dedication Ceremony 11 July 1955

Air Force Academy Dedication Ceremony 11 July 1955

Welcome by Lt Gen Harmon, USAFA Superintendent; Invocation; Remarks and Dedication by Secretary of the Air Force Harold Talbot; Oath of Office to the Class of 1959 by Brig Gen Stillman, Commandant of Cadets; Remarks by Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen Nathan Twining; Benediction; National Anthem.

  Congressional Record entry featuring an account of the
Air Force Academy Opening and Dedication, 12 July 1955

          Cadets at orginal site, Lowry AFB, Denver, Colorado     

1958

Cadets marching the last few miles up North Gate Boulevard to the Air Force Academy permanent site on 29 August 1958

          Tis a Mystery     

Sketch by Milton Caniff dedicated to the first issue of the Falconews

"This nine-foot-high bronze eagle with two eaglets was officially unveiled and dedicated Saturday noon, Dec 13, 1958, at the U.S. Air Force Academy. It is a gift from personnel of the Air Training Command to the Academy. The bronze eagle symbolizes the Air Force's speed, power, and readiness of flight while the two eaglets represent the cadets.

"The statue was designed by Carl Mose of St Louis, Missouri. Former ATC commander, Lt Gen Charles T. Myers, now retired, was instrumental in organizing the sculptor project and three years ago commissioned Mose to begin work. The approved statue was cast in bronze in Mexico City. Both the eagle and two eaglets sit atop a ten-foot high, marble-fronted pedestal north of the Cadet Dining Hall. The inscription below the statue reads: "Man's Flight Through Life Is Sustained By The Power Of His Knowledge. Presented By Members of The Air Training Command. 1958”

"Cadet Wing Commander, Robert D. Beckel, center, accepts ownership papers on the statue, while looking on are General Curtis E. LeMay, USAF Vice Chief of Staff, third from left; Lt Gen Frederic H. Smith, Jr., Commander, Air Training Command; second from right, and Maj Gen James E. Briggs, Superintendent of the AF Academy, right."

The Eagle and Fledglings Statue dedication at the head of the Air Garden, 13 December 1958

Airman Magazine article featuring the Eagle and Fledglings sculptor, Carl Mose

The Opening of the Planetarium and its first use in cadet navigation training

1959

The Cadet Library opens on 5 January 1959

Statue of Pegasus to be presented to the Air Force Cadet Wing by the Italian Air force

Air Force Academy buildings to be name for pioneer Air Force officers during June Week 1959

Dedication of Fairchild Hall with Mrs. Fairchild and others

 

Dedication of Harmon Hall including Mrs. Harmon and members of the Harmon family

"Mrs. Hoyt S. Vandenberg of Washington, D.C., widow of Hoyt S. Vandenberg, stands with other dignitaries after memorialization ceremonies Wednesday, June 3, 1959, which named the Cadet Dormitory at the Air Force Academy Vandenberg Hall. The dedication ceremonies honoring the World War II commander of the Ninth Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force from 1948 to 1953 occurred just prior to graduation of the historic Air Force Academy Class of 1959.

"With Mrs. Vandenberg, from left to right, are the Secretary of the Air Force, James H. Douglas; General Carl Spaatz, USAF (Ret.), first Chief of Staff of the Separate Air Force; General Thomas D. White, present Chief of Staff; Major General James E. Briggs, Academy Superintendent; and Captain Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr., son of General and Mrs. Vandenberg."

Graduation ceremonies for the USAFA Class of 1959

Life magazine article on the first graduating class of the Air Force Academy