Airpower pioneers : from Billy Mitchell to Dave Deptula / edited by John Andreas Olsen.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Olsen, John Andreas, editor.

Series:

History of Military Aviation

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Air Force--Biography.

United States.

Generals--United States--Biography.

Generals.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (450 pages)

Place of Publication:

Annapolis, Maryland : Naval Institute Press, [2023]

Summary:

Airpower Pioneers studies twelve especially influential airmen, detailing their impact on the evolution of the United States Air Force (USAF). Rather than focus on command in a series of air campaigns, this book describes the personal qualities and careers of people who distinguished themselves first and foremost by advancing airpower theory, doctrine, and strategy, and in certain cases by implementing significant organizational changes in the USAF structure. Some held important positions during wartime, but except for a few who excelled in both combat and peace, those selected for inclusion in this volume made their main contributions to advancing aerospace power away from the front line as planners, organizers, educators, and strategists. The future of aerospace power requires airmen not only to push the limits in combat but also to emphasize, publicly and frequently, what is special and vital about airpower. The distinctive characteristics of airpower-speed, range, flexibility, precision, and lethality-have improved with every new generation of aircraft and weapon systems. The history of modern warfare is full of empirical evidence of airpower's relevance. Looking ahead, the main challenge for air forces all over the world is to match advances in technology with new ideas. All air forces need visionary men and women whose reach exceeds their grasp, who are determined to adapt to new security and defense realities rather than adhere to romanticized ideas of yesteryear, and whose organizational skills ensure successful implementation of new ideas despite inevitable resistance to change.

Contents:

Brigadier General William "Billy" Mitchell : visionary firebrand / Richard P. Hallion

General of the Air Force Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold : airpower architect / Dik Alan Daso

Major General Haywood S. "Possum" Hansell Jr. : planner, commander, and historian / Richard R. Muller

General Hoyt S. Vandenberg : building the Air Force / Phillip S. Meilinger

General Curtis E. LeMay : operator, organizer, and strategic commander / Paul J. Springer

General Bernard A. Schriever : guiding the Air Force to new frontiers / Karl P. Mueller

Lieutenant General Glenn A. Kent : analyst who put rubber on the ramp / David A. Ochmanek

General David C. Jones : modernizer and reformer / Brian D. Laslie

General Wilbur L. Creech : transforming the Combat Air Forces / Benjamin S. Lambeth

Colonel John A. Warden : strategist, innovator, and educator / John Andreas Olsen

General Merrill A. McPeak : reorganizing the Air Force / Heather P. Venable

Lieutenant General David A. Deptula : airpower advocate and visionary / Christopher J. Bowie

Reflections : the importance of vision / John Andreas Olsen

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Olsen, John Andreas Airpower Pioneers

ISBN:

9781682478134