<P> The War Department existed from August 7 , 1789 until September 18 , 1947 , when it split into Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force and joined the Department of the Navy as part of the new joint National Military Establishment ( NME ) , renamed the United States Department of Defense in 1949 . </P>
<P> The War Department existed from August 7 , 1789 until September 18 , 1947 , when it split into Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force and joined the Department of the Navy as part of the new joint National Military Establishment ( NME ) , renamed the United States Department of Defense in 1949 . </P>
when did the war department change its name
when did the war department change its name
September 18 , 1947
September 18 , 1947