What Act created the Air Force as an independent service in the US military in 1947?

The National Security Act of 1947 is the legislation responsible for transforming the United States military structure by establishing the Air Force as an independent branch of the armed services. This act aimed to enhance national security by reorganizing and restructuring the existing military and intelligence agencies in the context of the Cold War.

Prior to the enactment of this act, the Air Force was a part of the Army as the Army Air Forces, which limited its ability to operate independently. The National Security Act allowed for a separation that enabled the Air Force to prioritize airpower and its strategic significance in modern warfare. This independence was essential for focusing resources and developing an air-based military strategy that matched the evolving nature of conflicts.

Other options, such as the Military Reorganization Act, Defense Production Act, and Air Power Act, do not exist or do not carry the specific historical significance relating to the establishment of the Air Force as a separate entity in 1947. The National Security Act remains a pivotal moment in military history, marking the emergence of airpower as a distinct and vital component of national defense policy.