First Air Force Academy class of just 306 cadets started out in WWII barracks, faced high standards

The first U.S. Air Force Academy class began at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, not at Colorado Springs, after 306 cadets arrived on July 11, 1955. Newcomers watched an air show with bombers and fighter jets, while retired Col. Max Miller and retired Gen. Bradley Hosmer recalled the intense first-day training and the strict standards they faced. With campus construction still under way, the base—home to World War II-era barracks—served as their location for three years. Cadets trained in khaki uniforms, kept neckties on even during over-90-degree heat, and even Greg Boyington Jr. had to remove a tattoo to comply with regulations. Academically, they took 22 credit hours per semester.