Without the aid of aerial reconnaissance, World War II might have lasted years longer and the Cuban missile buildup would have gone undetected. The development of this vital military art has been the life work of General George Goddard, who almost singlehandedly advanced the field to the highly sophisticated level that it has reached today. Night and color aerial photography, rapid film processing, the use of flash equipment and long distance lenses, the development of the stereo-strip camera and planes designed exclusively for reconnaissance-scores pf advances in military aerial photography can be traced to his efforts. The career of this extraordinary man is here recounted in living color. It includes his plane crack-ups, his hairraising experiments, his ability to outrun and outwit the military bureaucracy, and reveals throughout, his unstinting dedication to his work and to his country. The story of his life is one of continuous adventure -- Dust jacket.

The Mitchell Era -- The Lean Years 1926-1936 -- The War Years 1936-1946 -- Bikini Atoll and Beyond.