空軍是在第一次世界大戰後才興起的軍種,由於作戰速度快、面積大,可在戰場上發揮重要戰力,英、法、義等國相繼發展航空教育以建立空軍。中國自清末即引進飛機,但卻遲至1928年10月成立「中央陸軍軍官學校航空隊」後,方開始發展全國性的航空教育,經多次改組,至1932年9月改制為「中央航空學校」。1930年代,中國航空教育,先有德、美、義等國外籍顧問參與,其中美籍顧問團,參與中央航空學校的建置,深刻影響近代中國空軍教育發展。1937年,第二次中日戰爭爆發,中央航空學校輾轉遷至雲南昆明。1938年7月,定名為「空軍軍官學校」。1941年,中美兩國航空教育再起合作,中國派遣空軍軍官學校員生赴美,接受美式航空訓練及駕駛新式飛機,其重點是建立中國本土空軍,以加強空軍的作戰能力。赴美受訓的員生有兩個特點:一是受訓人數眾多、二是受訓科目完整。這些員生返國後,一方面引入美式航空訓練知識;一方面也促成「中美空軍混合團」(Chinese-American Composite Wing)成立,使航空知識在戰爭時期有所提升,對近代中國航空教育產生莫大的助益。
The rise of air force as a military branch began after World War I. The air force was regarded as a very important instrument of warfare because of its speed and wide range of attack. The Great Britain, France, Italy and other countries all developed aviation education to establish air forces around this time. Although aircraft were introduced into China at the end of the Qing Dynasty, national aviation education did not begin to develop until October 1928, when the "Aviation Team of Central Army Military Academy" was established by the Nationalist Government. After several reorganizations, it became the "Central Aviation Academy" in September 1932. In the 1930s, the Aviation education of China was assisted by German, American, Italian and other foreign consultants. Notably, the American advisory group led by John H. Jouett helped in the establishment of aviation education, including subject education and a strict assessment system, which had a far-reaching impact on modern China's air force training. Following the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937, the "Central Aviation Academy" moved to Kunming, Yunnan. In July 1938 it was renamed the "Air Force Academy." With the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, a new form of cooperation in aviation education began between China and the United States. China sent cadets from the Air Force Academy to the United States to receive American-style education and training and to learn about operating new aircraft. The goal was to set up China's air force teams and strengthen their combat capabilities. There are two key points in these training programs: first, the number of trainees was large; and second, the subjects of training were comprehensive. After these cadets returned to China, they introduced American aviation techniques and knowledge to their peers. Furthermore, the US training led to the establishment of the "Chinese-American Composite Wing", which improved China's aviation capabilities during the war and contributed greatly to modern Chinese aviation education.