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  • Catching an Air Force Spy

    Unfortunately, even some Air Force members have committed espionage against the United States. The case of Jeffrey M. Carney is a Cold War example of how people can be tempted to turn against their own country. Entering the Air Force in 1980, Carney became disillusioned with the USAF and intended to

  • Counterintelligence in the Cold War and Beyond

    Counterintelligence: Detection of espionage, sabotage, treason, sedition, subversion, disloyalty and disaffection.Espionage played an important role in worldwide tensions between the East and West during the Cold War. Among OSI's many functions, counterintelligence has been crucial for national

  • OSI Civilian Attire

    OSI modeled its civilian attire after the FBI. This suit and hat were typical special agent attire in the 1960s. Modern OSI clothing includes items like the "raid jacket." It appears to be a normal denim jacket, but it has hidden flaps that can be pulled out to identify the wearer as a government

  • An Evolving Service Modeled on the FBI

    After becoming a separate service in 1947, the Air Force needed a single investigative branch to replace an inefficient mix of Army investigative functions. Founded in 1948, the new Office of Special Investigations (OSI) united a number of security-related groups. Organized similarly to the FBI,

  • Office of Special Investigations

    Note: This Exhibit is no longer on display.The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is the U.S. Air Force's criminal investigative service, and it plays an important role in protecting the USAF. OSI battles a wide variety of threats. Most OSI investigations focus on crimes such as

  • Willys Quarter-ton Jeep

    "[The] equipment ... among the most vital to our success in Africa and Europe were the bulldozer, the jeep, the 2 1/2 ton truck and the C-47 airplane. Curiously enough, none of these is designed for combat." - Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower The jeep, first used by the U.S. military during World War II,

  • B-58 Escape Capsule

    When the B-58 Hustler entered service in 1961, the three crew members had typical ejection seats, but ejection from the Hustler at very high speed proved extremely dangerous. To improve aircrew survivability, the Stanley Aircraft Corp. developed an ejection capsule which was retrofitted into the

  • 1962 Bendix Trophy

    On March 5, 1962, Capts. Robert G. Sowers (pilot), Robert MacDonald (navigator) and John T. Walton (defensive systems operator) flew from Los Angeles to New York City in the B-58A on display at the museum in only 2 hours 56.8 seconds, an average speed of 1,214.17 miles per hour. For this, they were

  • Cushman Model 39 Delivery Scooter

    This three-wheeled utility vehicle was built in 1943 for the U.S. Army. The Cushman company of Lincoln, Neb., began making scooters in 1936 and sold 606 Model 39s to the U.S. military during World War II. These utility scooters remained in service for many years moving various equipment and

  • MA-1A Start Cart

    The MA-1A start cart generates high velocity air for starting an aircraft jet engine. That air is fed into the aircraft engine, causing it to spin or "spool up" with sufficient rpm for starting. The cart's air delivery system is powered by a small turbine engine.Click here to return to the Cold War