All week long we are honoring each branch of the Armed Forces in support of Armed Forces Day, Saturday. Today we salute the United States Air Force. The Air Force was established on Sept. 18, 1947 and was initially part of the Army. The branch conducts independent air operations and provides air support for land and navy forces. The service is the second largest branch, with more than 320,000 active duty Airmen, 105,000 Air National Guard Airmen and 69,000 Reserve members. In Idaho, Airmen serve in the Idaho Air National Guard and the Mountain Home Air Force Base Gunfighters's 366th Fighter Wing. The Idaho Air National Guard was established on Oct. 13, 1946, and includes almost 1,500 Airmen. 124th Fighter Wing pilots have flown 10 aircraft in its history and currently fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the 266th Range Squadron is responsible for providing superior electronic simulations of ground-based air defense threats on the Mountain Home Range Complex and beyond. Active duty Airmen...