Silver Wings: A History of the United States Air Force
by By Boyne, Walter J.
Category: Political Science , General

Silver Wings is a thoroughly refreshing, lively, and informative history of the United States Air Force. But Walter Boyne's account is by no means history in the conventional sense. Rather than setting forth a traditional catalog of equipment, well-known campaigns, and famous pilots, Boyne chronicles the colorful inside story of the events and the men and women who shaped the Air Force into the most powerful military force in history.Boyne offers a new perspective on how the USAF grew and gradually expanded the concept of air power to that of space power. He traces the earliest days of aviation history from Civil War ballooning, through the initial establishment of the Aeronautics Division of the Signal Corps in 1907, to its rapid growth in World War I, its fight for survival during the Depression, its triumphant expansion and achievement of airpower during World War II, and its spectacular successes in recent decades.Boyne draws upon more than fifty years of research and forty years of flying experience to give depth and dimension to his story. And with a novelist's flair for storytelling, he brings to life the rogues, unsung heroes, feuds, fiascoes, and triumphs of the Air Force. Emphasis is given to the less-well-known, interesting sidelights. For example, in his account of Billy Mitchell's demonstration that airplanes could sink U.S. battleships - which stunned and infuriated American admirals - Boyne reveals the political intrigue behind the affair and its repercussions.Wonderfully informative captions accompany hundreds of photos by the premier aviation photographers and artists, as well as vintage photos from Air Force archives. Boyne uses the photos to help tell the amazing parallel story of the development of technology, from the first fragile Wright biplanes to the Northrop B-2 and the dazzling hightech Stealth fighters.Silver Wings honors the devotion of thousands of people who did their jobs without concern for recognition or reward. Anyone who served, the families of those who served, history buffs, and all proud Americans will find in this book reminders of that service - sometimes nostalgic, sometimes amusing, at other times poignant, but always fascinating.