DAYTON — A special exhibit highlighting the 70th birthday of the U.S. Air Force will open, Sept. 9, at the Air Force’s national museum.

Seventy pieces of art, one representing a significant event for each year in Air Force history, will be displayed in the museum’s art gallery.

The exhibit, titled, “American Airmen: Breaking Barriers Since 1947-Commemorating 70 Years of Air & Space Power through Art,” showcases the innovation, teamwork and proud heritage of the U.S. Air Force and highlights the unique contributions of its service members.

The artwork, provided by the U.S. Air Force Art Program, includes pieces from artists, including Keith Ferris, Maxine McCaffrey, Robert McCall, William S. Phillips and John Witt.

With the experience of fighting in two world wars during the first half of the 20th century, United States military aviators advocated for the creation of a separate air force. On Sept. 18, 1947, their efforts came to fruition when the U.S. Air Force was established as a separate service under the Department of Defense, equal to the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy.

This exhibit at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will be open for one year. Admission and parking are free.

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year about one million visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.