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(More customer reviews)This is an outstanding work that should be on the shelf of everyone interested in the history of flight. Here are my reasons for recommending the work.
First, there has not been any genuine attempt to write a comprehensive overview of the history of air power since Robin Higham published his book, "Air Power: A Concise History" in 1972. This work, of course, is an expansion and updating of that earlier book. I believe it fulfills a real need in the historical literature because of its broad perspective, sweeping conclusions, and multinational character. Higham is at his best in synthesizing the interrelationships of air power from nation to nation and conflict to conflict. He is equally at home with American, European, and Asian aspects of the story.
Second, I believe that the author has effectively explored the evolution of the doctrine of air power and incorporated the seven major ingredients of air power into his discussion:
1. Strategic bombardment of enemy production facilities and marshalling yards (with both land- and sea-based aircraft and missiles). Strategic bombing took on enormous importance because it was the most spectacular mission an air component could accomplish without assistance from ground forces.
2. Aerial interdiction, a close relative to strategic bombardment, but not exactly the same, for its purpose is to stop the flow of enemy assets to the battlefield.
3. Air superiority, control of the airspace over the battlefield and the classic dogfighting of fighters.
4. Air interception, fighter defense of friendly territory.
5. Ground attack and close air support, aircraft used in direct support of ground forces for victory in a battle. This is the classic case of infantry calling in air strikes seen in many Hollywood war films. In reality, it is a very important and difficult skill to master, especially in hitting a target while missing the friendly troops nearby. Another component came into this after World War II with the rise of helicopters that have a special place in accomplishing this mission but are owned, at least in the U.S., by the Army rather than the Air Force.
6. Airlift, an especially important aspect of air power usually ignored or taken for granted. It was the measure of victory in certain aspects of World War II (e.g. keeping China in the war through the Hump airlift and in airborne operations), in the Berlin Airlift, in the siege of Khe Sanh, in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, and perhaps in the deployment for the Gulf War.
7. Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (CI) has been critical to the successful use of air power. These include such things as reconnaissance, AWACs, DEW Line, navigation, radar, fire control, and the Global Positioning System.
Third, the author every effectively explores two themes--continuity and change--to give unity to the book and make the past useful for understanding recent events. Providing a suggestive description of air power in recent conflicts, Higham demonstrates how tactics and strategy sometimes paralleled those employed by air commanders of much earlier eras.
Fourth, the author's most interesting chapter is his last one, in which he offers some lessons for those involved in air power strategy and doctrine today. That suggestive chapter will find use in a variety of settings.
This is a must read book, and I would go further to add that it should be re-read, annotated, and referred to repeatedly.
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