Almost as soon as airplanes were invented, military strategists realized their potential. As early as the First World War planes served as scouts, fighters, and bombers--and by World War II all the advanced states had large military air forces dedicated to bombardment. Starting with the less-than-perfect aircraft that flew over Europe in 1915, which caused countless deaths, see how technology developed between the wars; the early campaigns of WWII; air battles on the Eastern front; the defeat of the Luftwaffe; and sky combat in the Pacific.

Originally published: London : Cassell, 1999.

Map List -- Chronology -- 1. The First World War -- 2. The Interwar Years -- 3. The Air War in Europe -- 4. The Air War in the Pacific -- Conclusion.