A comprehensive history of the U.S. Air Force examines its leaders, victories, and flight technology, from the earliest incarnations to the stealth bomber.

"A Thomas Dunne Book."

Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- 1. The man of influence -- 2. The sorting-out process: 1943-1949 -- 3. The first crucible -- 4. Power and peace : 1953-1961 -- 5. The many facets of war -- 6. The longtime pillars of the air force : four major commands -- 7. Change after Vietnam -- 8. Leadership, doctrine, and technology after Vietnam -- 9. Victory : springboard to the future -- 10. Unremitting warfare -- 11. Terror and response -- 12. Assessing problems and facing challenges -- Appendix One : Secretaries of the Air Force, Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force, and Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force -- Appendix Two : Guard, Reserve, Air Force Academy, and Civil Air Patrol -- Appendix Three : Significant terrorist incidents, 1961-2003 : a brief chronology -- Appendix Four : United Nations resolution 1441 and the Blix/El-Baradei letter -- Bibliography -- Chronology of aerospace power since 1903.