The United States Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs and is the youngest of the four service academies. The creation of the academy was authorized in 1954 by Eisenhower and the first classes were taught at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. Construction began on the academy at the Springs that same year. The current buildings that occupy the site were designed by Walter Netsch, an architect with International architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Famous for his modern expressionist architecture, (he believed that modernism didn't necessarily mean a box), his design for the chapel at the academy was largely criticized at the time. Intentionally resembling a squadron of fighter jets, many considered the structure too impersonal for a place of worship. Over time however, the building has became a tourist attraction in its own right and was made a national historic landmark in 2004. Netsch passed away on June 16th, 2008 literally two weeks after these photos were taken. He was 88 years old.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Fact Sheet on the Chapel