Section was formerly classified to section 1972 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section, and to section 32 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.

R.S. § 2003 derived from act Fespan. 25, 1865, ch. 52, § 1, 13 Stat. 437.

Air Force inserted to conform to act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II, § 207(a), (f), 61 Stat. 502, which established a separate Department of the Air Force, and Secretary of Defense Transfer Order No. 40 [App. A(10)], July 22, 1949, which transferred certain functions to the Air Force. Section 207(a), (f) of act July 26, 1947, was repealed by act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, § 53, 70A Stat. 641. Act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 1, enacted “Title 10, Armed Forces”, which in sections 8010 to 8013 continued Department of the Air Force under administrative supervision of Secretary of the Air Force.