One of the longest and most bitter disputes in twentieth century military affairs has been over the organization of the armed forces, particularly the question of independence of the air forces. The argument over an independent Air Force cut to the very heart of national defense, for who controlled air policy, air doctrine, buying of aircraft, military training, and the structure of the air forces determined the type of military forces the nation would possess and how aviation would be used in war.

A retrospective of the Air Force "Scientific Advisory Board," which was formed when the Air Force became a separate service by Arnold von Karman to play an advisory role in all aspects of new technology.

This volume is part of a series documenting the history of U.S. air activities in Europe during World War I. The narratives here are published by the Office of Air Force History so as to reach a wider circle of persons interested in the Great War and the early history of military aviation. Included in this volume is William C. Sherman's "tactical History" which provides excellent information about the conduct of combat operations.

Like all chronologies, bibliographies, and encyclopedias, Air Force combat units of World War II serves a very special historical function. It traces the lineage of each Army air Corps and U.S. Air Force combat group or higher organization active in World War II, form its origins to 1956. It is a concise official record of those units, their assignments, subordinate organizations, stations, commanders, campaigns, aircraft, and decorations. But more than that, it is an important source of ready information providing readers with a corporate memory of vital statistics.

This book is prepared by the United States Air Force Historical Research Center for the use of the Air Force and the general public. It presents fundamental data about the 7 medals and streamers earned in combat by Air Force members and units in military campaigns from the beginning of military air power up to the present day.

This manuscript those who have led American air forces. What kind of men were they? What kind of leaders were they? What can we learn from their experience? The book takes a close look at two air leaders: Rear Admiral William Moffett and General Carl A. Spaatz.

Air power has always been linked closely to science and technology. The very reality of flight depended upon a technical innovation. Unlike other services, where machines merely support the mission, technology is for the Air Force at the very heart of its existence as an institution. As a consequence, the USAF and its predecessor organizations have always recognized the singular importance of science to their survival. This book describes and analyzes the methodologies and conclusions of the five main science and technology forecasts undertaken by the Air Force since before its birth as an...

American concerns over air defense of the continental United States were at their most grave in the 1950's. The descent into cold war in the late 1940's, the confrontation of two hostile political systems in distant Korea, and the Soviet development of atomic weapons earlier than expected came together to stimulate popular pressures for a shield against manned bombers reaching the American heartland from the North Pole. This manuscript describes the efforts take by the Air Force in light of the real threats of nuclear weapons. The postwar Air Defense Command, an administrative and planning...

This book seeks to recount air experience and development before World War II, to describe the objectives, plans and effects of air warfare in Europe and in the Pacific, and to offer criticism, opinion, and lessons of that great conflict. The observations in this book constitute a memoir. This book is part of a series of historical volumes published by the United States Air Force, Office of Air Force History.

Following World War II, the onset of nuclear weapons, long-range jet bombers, and ballistic missiles radically changed American foreign policy and military strategy. The United States Air Force accepted the challenge of organizing and leading a massive research and development effort to build ballistic missiles. This manuscript addresses the first generation of ballistic missiles - the intercontinental Atlas and Titan, and the intermediate range Thor. During the period addressed in this book, missiles advanced from drawing board to alert status, where the next generation now remains poised to...