“A truly fascinating and insightful perspective on the history of air power.” —Norman R. Augustine, former chairman and CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation
“A splendid job.” —The Wall Street Journal
Author’s note
Part 1: Kitty Hawk to Saint-Mihiel, 1900-1918
1. Visions 3
2. Bogeymen 32
3. Realities 55
4. Grand plans 90
Part 2: Versailles to Madrid, 1919-1939
5. Lessons learned and mislearned 125
6. The quest for precision 153
7. The fight for the fighter 184
Part 3: Warsaw to Nagasaki, 1939-1945
8 Finest hour 219
9 Air versus sea 255
10 The temporary triumph of tactical aviation 281
11 The allied bomber offensive 308
Part 4: Omaha to Baghdad, 1946-2003
12 Strategic air command 345
13 Hard knocks 376
14 Precision, at last 406
Notes 443
Bibliography 485
Index
