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The Neuse River Air Force was established by the Neuse River Foundation in 1993. It was a pioneer in environmental air surveillance. At first, it relied on volunteer pilots flying their own airplanes and paying for their own fuel.  Flights were used extensively by the Neuse Riverkeeper to conduct  surveillance of animal factories (CAFOs) and other sources of pollution in the Neuse River watershed. Between 1993 and 2000 an average of 15 pilots were on hand to conduct these flights. The first of these was a noted author, Phil Bowie, of New Bern, and a highly respected attorney, Bob Epting, of Chapel Hill.  Others who volunteered extensively included Ron Smith, a retired US Marine aviator, Joe Corby, a retired New Bern resident, and Dennis Howard, a local businessman. Today, these flights are being conducted by most of the  North Carolina Waterkeeper programs. As "frequent flyers" they patrol and document the animal industry's pollution activities on a weekly basis.   

Since its inception, an estimated 5,000 flight hours have been logged. Many thousands of photos/videos have been taken. 

The Neuse River Air Force's success in finding, documenting and eliminating sources of pollution has set the example for Waterkeeper programs in NC, across the US  and in many foreign places.