Beyond the Wild Blue: A History of the U. S. Air Force, 1947-1997 - Hardcover
Sept. 18. 1997 marked the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. Over the 5 decades of its existence, the USAF has distinguished itself in wars both hot & cold; in the process, it has pioneered amazing advances in technology. From the prop-driven armada of World War II to the most advanced Stealth weaponry, from pioneers like Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold to glorious conquests in the Gulf War, it is a high-flying study of the triumphs (& failures) of leadership & technology. It also tells how the USAF has successfully adapted to an array of social challenges, & how it is preparing for the difficulties of tomorrow. Color photos.
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About the Author:
Walter J. Boyne is the former director of the National Air & Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Boyne's books have made both the fiction and the nonfiction bestseller lists of The New York Times. His novels Roaring Thunder and Supersonic Thunder cover the first forty-four years of jet aviation. His critically acclaimed nonfiction book, Dawn Over Kitty Hawk, recounts the story of the Wright Brothers. A retired Air Force Colonel, Boyne was enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame class of 2007.
From Kirkus Reviews:
A survey of air force history from the time it succeeded the old Army Air Corps after WW II. Retired Air Force colonel and military historian Boyne (Clash of the Titans, 1995, etc.) writes of the enormous changes in postwar US air power wrought by the chance of the Cold War turning hot. Boyne criticizes the rapid demobilization of our powerful armed forces after WW II and Truman's deep cuts in the defense budget. Boyne's hero is the WW II general Henry ``Hap'' Arnold, the visionary architect of air power and the advocate of constant technical research and development; he aggressively pushed for intense training, an action that made possible the air force of today. He credits our rapidly rebuilt air power with saving American and South Korean forces from defeat in the early days of the Korean War; argues that the Strategic Air Command was crucial in preventing nuclear war; and reminds us of the success of the Berlin airlift and other humanitarian efforts. Boyne's villain is former defense secretary Robert McNamara, whom he blames for losing the Vietnam War as a result of his arrogant disregard of military advice, but he is strangely uncritical of President Johnson, the commander-in-chief. He credits Nixon's bombing offensive with forcing North Vietnam to the peace table. Reagan's great increase in military budgets, and the subsequent growth of the air force, won the Cold War and the Gulf War, in his view. He sees today's air force as the best on the planet, reflecting ``Hap'' Arnold's vision and faith. A comprehensive study of the development of the air force and a spirited argument for the necessity of long-term planning. (color and b&w photos, not seen) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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- PublisherDiane Pub Co
- Publication date1997
- ISBN 10 0788164902
- ISBN 13 9780788164903
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages442
- Rating
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