Fun with Maps ISSUE 2025-151

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (September 18, 2025) – In today’s edition of Fun with Maps, we celebrate the men who take to “the wild blue yonder” to protect our freedom.               

US Air Force

This US military branch traces its roots to August 1907, a short 4 years after the historic first flight by the Wright Brothers.

The planes flew under the Army’s control in both World Wars.

The US Air Force as a separate military branch was officially established on September 18, 1947.

It flies many types of planes, but the most durable is the B-52, which entered service in 1955 and is still in service.  It flew missions in all US conflicts since then. 

To me the most memorable B-52 mission was during Desert Storm in 1991 when a squadron flew from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana 14,000 miles round trip in 36 hours delivering Tomahawk cruise missiles.  Four crews on each plane.  Honey, I’ll be home for lunch in two days…

This map of Colorado, home to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, is by Cram from 1887.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.