In a brief period of 50 years, the United States Air Force has developed from a doubtful experiment with untried men and flimsy craft to a powerful force for the maintenance of national security and world peace. This exciting, informative book tells in words and pictures the dramatic story of these years -- of the men, the planes, and the missiles, of wartime exploits and peacetime missions, and of the strategic role the new Air Force now plays in the defense of the free world. Here are the adventurous early years of flying, when a few daring men and imaginative designers put planes into the air that not only flew but were later to prove their value as weapons of attack and support in World War I. Here is the airman's struggle for recognition between the two world wars, highlighted by the Billy Mitchell trial, and the steady progress that was gradually being made in aircraft design and production. Especially reflected is the great magnitude of World War II, in Europe, in the Pacific and at home, and the way in which American airpower met this vast challenge all over the world. Full recognition of the immense importance of airpower came soon after the war: in 1947 the Department of the Air Force and the United States Air Force were created. Great achievements have marked this last decade, notably the Korean air campaign and the Berlin Airlift -- striking examples of our progress in the air. This impressive volume illustrates the men and missions, the tools and deeds of the new Air Force. From the demanding tasks of the Strategic Air Command and the constant vigil of our far-reaching air defense system to problems of manpower and training, health and safety, each important phase of the air story is covered. In these pages is everything you need to know about air bases, research and development on planes and missiles, industrial procurement and other factors essential to maintain our vast Air Force program. As a stimulating story, a history of accomplishment and a record of achievement, A History of the United States Air Force is a volume every American will be proud of in today's troubled world. - Jacket flap.

"Fifty eventful years of military aviation -- the men and planes, the wartime exploits and peacetime missions. An official general history of the United States Air Force and its predecessors prepared by the USAF Historical Division, in cooperation with the Editors of Air Force Magazine." - Jacket.