Air Force Historical Research Agency Welcome to the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Legacy Vault

DAF Legacy Vault

We are excited to announce the development of a new digital space dedicated to showcasing the Department of the Air Force's (DAF) official archival records. This project highlights the rich and storied history of both the Air Force and Space Force, featuring historical records, artifacts, photographs, audio recordings, video documentation, and archival finding aids.

Although the page is currently under construction, our team is actively working to ensure it becomes a comprehensive and accessible resource for historians, researchers, veterans, and enthusiasts. We aim to make these valuable materials readily discoverable for those seeking insights into the DAF's contributions to our nation's history.

This initiative underscores our commitment to preserving and sharing the official ephemera of the Airmen and Guardians who have shaped the legacy of the skies and beyond. Updates will follow as the project progresses, and we look forward to unveiling more resources soon!

DAF History Publications

Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion: An Annotated Bibliography
This bibliography presents a comprehensive compilation of primary and secondary sources related to the development, evaluation, and eventual cancellation of the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion (ANP) program pursued during the Cold War. It categorizes over 1,400 annotated references, including Air Force reports, Atomic Energy Commission documentation, contractor studies, and congressional hearings, with coverage spanning scientific feasibility studies, reactor technology, shielding designs, and propulsion system integration. The work highlights the collaboration between agencies such as the U.S. Air Force, General Electric, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and it identifies milestones in projects like the NEPA, HTRE, and X-6 initiatives. Additional entries detail environmental safety assessments and political oversight that shaped the trajectory of nuclear propulsion research within military aviation contexts. As a research tool, the bibliography serves both technical and policy-oriented inquiries into one of the most ambitious and ultimately unrealized aerospace programs of its era.

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