United States Army Air Corps
1. The Army Air Corps is an administrative corps of the US Army and was established in 1987 and serves to organize, train, equip and operate the Army's light aircraft and Helicopter assets. The Army Air Corps was formed by renaming the Army Aviation Branch which was established during the 1950s . Its primary function is the tactical support of the army by providing tactical close air support and transport services. An updated version of the Key West Agreement governs the division of responsibility for air assets between the Air Corps and the Air Force. The Army is precluded from operating jet aircraft, which is why the Air Force operates such close-air support craft as the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
2. What is now the United States Air Force (USAF) was formerly a part of the U.S. Army, namely the United States Army Air Corps or USAAC. It was established under this name by an act of Congress on July 2, 1926. During World War II its role grew greatly; the Air Corps eventually became the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on June 20, 1941. The required Congressional disestablishment of the Army Air Corps itself did not occur until 1947. The United States Army Air Corps was preceded by United States Army Air Service, established in 1917.