Soaring to 68: Luke celebrates Air Force birthday

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Marcy Copeland
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Luke Air Force Base celebrated the Air Force's 68th birthday during a traditional cake cutting ceremony with Col. Russell Boester, 56th Dental Squadron deputy commander and Airman First Class Michael De Ubl, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron F-35 armament specialist, as the youngest Airman at Luke.

"It's an honor and not what I expected when I was told I was going to cut a cake," said De Ubl. "I wasn't really expecting this when I opened up the email from my first sergeant, but knowing about the tradition and where it comes from, I feel honored."

With many traditions established over time, every branch of service has their own, but there are a few that are shared amongst the services such as the cake cutting tradition.

A cake is presented to the commander with the oldest and youngest member of the service present. The commander cuts the cake and hands the first piece to the guest of honor (if present). Then a piece is handed to the eldest member as a sign of honor and respect to experience and seniority.

After taking a bite, the eldest member passes the cake to the youngest with a clean fork symbolizing the passing of wisdom, knowledge, and experience, as well as trust and confidence in those who will continue to carry on the tradition of that service.
As will all traditions, it stems from a history that began as something small and grew into something that would one day change the world.

This is the Air Force's history:

The Air Force was once known as the Army's Aeronautical Section, Signal Corps in 1907, when it was still using balloons in aerial observation from the 19th century. It received its first airplane in 1909 from the Wright brothers. The first aero squadron was born in December of 1913.  

The Army established the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps to further the progression of the Army's flying capabilities. Within a few weeks, World War I had erupted in Europe, and by 1917 the U.S. had entered the conflict.

Falling behind in technology, the U.S. had difficulty keeping up with the aviation advancement of the Allied Powers. President Woodrow Wilson created the Army Air Service in May of 1918. By then, the service had grown to 19,000 officers and 178,000 enlisted men with 11,754 aircrafts at their disposal.

After restructuring in 1920, the Army Air Service became a combat arm of the Army and renamed to the Army Air Corps.

By 1939 World War II was underway and by 1941 the Department of War created the Army Air Forces. Luke Air Field was constructed in the valley outside of Phoenix, Arizona in 1941. After President Roosevelt asked congress to appropriate $300 million for aircraft purchases for the Army, expansion of the Army was underway creating new bases that could train pilots and mechanics. This would expand the aviation arm of the Army with the training of pilots and enlisted taking place at Luke and serving overseas during the war.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. was thrust into the war. With Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, the Army Air Forces saw mobilization of the nation's aviation industry and the largest air armada ever seen deploy into the European conflict. An estimated 2.4 million personnel and 80,000 planes were organized in major commands, numbered air forces, air divisions, groups and squadrons.

After dominating the skies during the war, and based on wartime achievements and future potential, the Army Air Forces was separated from the Army and the United States Air Force was created on September 18, 1947. Recognized as equal to the Navy, Army, Marines, and Coast Guard, the Air Force became the fifth branch of the Armed Services. The Air Force has led the combat services into a new era of superiority with the ability to support any service anywhere with a moment's notice. Its mission is to fly, fight and win... in air, space, and cyberspace.

"I am very honored," said Boester. "It's been a good run and we are a young service, but we have a lot of our own heritage and I am honored to take part of it."