During Operation DESERT STORM, January-February 1991, U.S. Air Force warplanes flew more than 83,000 sorties--59 percent of all coalition combat sorties--completely gutting Iraq"s aerial and ground defenses. This is just one fo the hidtory-making details that comprise the exciting story of the U.S. Air Force. The United States Air Force: a Chronology captures the sweep of U.S. Air Force history from the service's inception to present times. Concise entries, arranged by date, touch upon military events such as victories and defeats; significant political, administrative, and technological changes affecting the service; and significant events in the careers of noted leaders. Daily occurrences are described within the context of greater historical events such as wars and space flights. The chronology covers all aspects of the U.s. Air Force and its historical antecedents (U.S. air Service, Army Air Corps, and Army air Force)' commencing with the Balloon Corps in the American Civil War and extending through Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Events of note, major and minor. are listed in the order of occurrence. The book includes all major air campaigns in all major conflicts, as well as such noteworthy events as record-breaking flights and the indtroduction of new aircraft--Book cover.

The chronology -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the author.