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

The Air Force Role in Developing International Outer Space Law
At Maxwell Air Force Base and Wright-Patterson, ACC Legal Division members such as Daggett Howard and Charles Kent joined Secretary Donald Quarles and General Nathan Twining in blocking ICAO talks on outer-space sovereignty until real-world events and RAND’s Preliminary World-Circling Spaceship study defined customary law. When Sputnik I overflew U.S. territory, Quarles hailed the “freedom of passage” precedent, and Judge Advocates Albert Kuhfeld, Richard Hagan, and Walter Reed later guided COPUOS negotiations at the United Nations that produced the 1968 Outer Space Principles, the Rescue and Return of Astronauts agreement, and the 1972 Liability for Damages Convention.

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Photo by: Col Delbert R. Terrill, Jr. |  VIRIN: SPACE_LAW.PDF