Since the Wright brothers made their famous flight at Kitty Hawk in 
1903, aviation has emerged as the indispensable arm of American 
military power. In this detailed and well-illustrated history, Charles J. 
Gross traces its development from the technological antecedents of 
the Wright brothers' triumph through the air war for Kosovo. Drawing 
on examples from all periods and all service branches, he explains 
the roles of politics, economics, and technology in shaping air power 
in the U.S. armed forces and assesses the actual impact of military 
aviation on warfare.

    Gross discusses major developments in aircraft, doctrine, training,
and operations. He also provides discussions of airlift, in-flight 
refueling, military budgets, industry, and inter-service squabbling. He
deftly sketches the evolution of the air arms of each of the different 
services and provides clear analysis of military budgets. He also 
provides assessments of the selected programs of Eisenhower, 
Kennedy, McNamara, and Nixon.

    Military professionals, scholars, civilian government policy makers
and planners, and interested members of the general public will all 
rely on this book as an invaluable guide.

_________________________________________________________

CHARLES J. GROSS, who holds a Ph.D. in military history from 
Ohio State University, is currently the chief of the Air National Guard
history program. He retired from the air force as a colonel in 1994 
and now lives in Crofton, Maryland.


Number Two: Centennial of Flight Series


What people are saying about this book

"Joe Gross has written a concise but not oversimplified history of 
American military aviation. His accounts sets a new standard for air 
power interpretation."—Allan R. Millett, Mason Professor of Military 
History, Ohio State University.

"Dr. Gross' amazing analysis of the moment in history that shaped 
American airpower is truly unique. He describes events from the 
time of the Wright brothers to recent Kosovo operations, always 
deftly defining the critical events that make aviation the dominant 
force in battle today. The history of Air Power is America's history 
of warfare as we know it today. This view of 100 years of aviation 
captures the significant events that became the turning points of 
that history. This book is must reading for novice and expert alike."
—General Chuck Horner

"I found myself wanting to say a few huzzahs for the author’s insight
and fair-mindedness. Charles Gross has provided us with a fine
survey that is unusual—and indeed inspired—in its balance and
its emphasis on jointness."—Tami Davis Biddle, Parameters

". . . a balanced account, both interesting and readable, and 
particularly valuable for its perspective on what military aviation
promised and what it actually accomplished."—Norman Polmar,
Almanac of Seapower