Military Aircraft, 1919-1945: An Illustrated History of Their Impact(Weapons and Warfare)

An in-depth history of the time when airpower became the great equalizer, changing military strategy forever and bringing once-safe targets in reach. Military Aircraft, 1919–1945: An Illustrated History of Their Impact covers a crucial era in modern warfare technology. Ranging from the development of airpower doctrines in the aftermath of World War I to the aircraft and missions that put those doctrines into action during World War II, it provides an expert summing-up of the decades when the use of aircraft in battle came of age. In chapters covering both the history of air power and specific types of aircraft (fighters, bombers, reconnaissance and auxiliary planes), Military Aircraft, 1919–1945 introduces key theorists and designers, describes important changes in technology and production, and recreates spectacular episodes from Pearl Harbor to the London Blitz to the Enola Gay. Readers will see the dramatic impact of the first generation of modern military aircraft on land and sea. They will also see how the expansion of war to the skies brought economic opportunity to some home fronts, and looming terror and devastation to others.

About the Author :
Justin D. Murphy, Ph.D., is professor of history and director of the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom Honors Program at Howard Payne University, Brownwood, TX. He is the author of ABC-CLIO's Military Aircraft, Origins to 1918. Matthew A. McNiece is instructor of history and political science at Howard Payne University, Brownwood, TX. He is a contributing author to ABC-CLIO's The Encyclopedia of World War I: A Political, Social, and Military History and The Encyclopedia of World War II: A Political, Social, and Military History.

Review :
Considering the emergence of air power following World War I, this is a handy reference volume and fits well with the design of the series. While numerous other books on World War II aircraft are readily available, this volume with a textual emphasis provides more than those heavily illustrated selections. It covers a crucial era in military development and should be a part of any serious military collection and many a general-interest lending library. Murphy and McNiece (history and history/political science, respectively, Howard Payne U.) take a higher-level look at the policies and strategies that made airpower the great equalizer in war and diplomacy as well as describe the great airplanes of World War II. They give full credit to the years between the world wars when military and political strategists realized the potential of aviation as a threat as well as a practical way to locate and attack locations unavailable or excessively dangerous to ground troops, and carefully catalog the full range of airships that developed as a result. Budding aficionados can use this to begin their research about specific machines or models and those with specific preferences will find this handy to make comparisons. The many period illustrations are useful and well-chosen.