Gives brief comments on the accomplishments and exploits of some members of the 49th, that, at the same time, give a brief history and importance of the Group

Following his first two massive volumes describing the day-by-day history of the 5th Fighter Command and associated tactical, strategic, and grand strategy, William Wolf completes the trilogy with this volume. The aces of the 5FC are now personalized, and their fighters described, and Japanese aces are portrayed for the first time. American and Japanese pilot training and their importance to the outcome of the war is discussed and compared. Details of the 5FC Groups and Squadrons are revealed, as are those of the Japanese Naval and Army Air Forces. The details of the aircraft of the two combatants are compared, and the vulnerability of Japanese aircraft is discussed. The flying of the six aircraft types of the 5th Fighter Command is first described from Pilot Flight Manuals, then by the aces who flew them. Japanese and American combat maneuvers and tactics are described. The crucial importance of logistics and the construction of airfields are also discussed, along with maintenance and repair. Finally, the air war is presented from the Japanese viewpoint, including the causes for the defeat of its air forces.

This lavishly illustrated photo tribute captures the international scope of modern day American and European amphibious helicopter operations. The over-sized, full-color format and lively narrative draw the reader onto the ships and into the air of the versatile amphibious fleet. The HMS Ocean and the U.S. Navy's Wasp-class LHD USS Bataan, as well as the Dutch Rotterdam are just a few of the new helicopter assault ships covered together with a fleet of new and modernized helicopters. In addition, the author includes chapters on the joint US-UK exercise Bright Star 99, the MV-22 Osprey, RAF Chinooks, and U.S. Marines. Whether engaged in full conventional assault operations or peacekeeping/humanitarian support, helicopter amphibious forces provide an increasingly important role in today's uncertain strategic environment, as this book clearly indicates. A chronicle of their contributions, including photographs of troops and ships on exercises from nearly every NATO force, the book will be a welcome addition to the modern warfare bookshelf.

The author of Battle of Wits: The Complete Story of Codebreaking in World War II explores the innovations that propelled "air power" into the lexicon of warfare, from the first biplanes to drop ordinance to the high-tech wonders of missile-firing drone aircraft. Reprint.

This book takes the reader on an illustrated tour of the U.S. Army's hard-hitting airborne forces, from the Parachute Test Platoon of 1940 to the multiple global contingencies of the 21st Century. More than 180 photographs and pieces of art highlight the history of airborne units.

Describes the aircraft, weapons, tactics, and soldiers involved in submarine operations, from 1912 to 1972.

"Always at War is the story of Strategic Air Command (SAC) during the early decades of the Cold War. It explains how an organization dominated by experienced World War II airmen developed a unique culture that thrives to this day. The narrative begins with the origins of powered flight and describes how the early generation of American pilots developed their own culture and shared beliefs rooted in the promise of airpower."--Provided by publisher.

Area 51's most important military aviation developments are profiled in an illustrated format. When most of us think of Area 51, we think of aliens, UFOs, and controversial government cover-ups. It's easy to forget that, since the mid-1950s, the United States' famed extension of Edwards Air Force Base has served as a top-secret CIA testing ground for many of the most groundbreaking advancements in American military aviation technology. In Area 51 - Black Jets, author and military historian Bill Yenne offers the first fully illustrated chronology of Area 51's most famous aircraft projects, including Lockheed's U-2 "Dragon Lady" and SR-71 "Blackbird" reconnaissance planes, drones ranging from the early Lockheed D-21 to the modern-day General Atomics MQ-1 Predator, and the famous F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter produced by the Have Blue program during the 1970s. Each project is given its own fascinating chapter illuminating the aircraft's development at this famed location. But beyond the aircraft themselves, Area 51 - Black Jets also covers a handful of the many classified experimental programs carried out at Area 51 over the years, such as Have Doughnut, Have Ferry, and Have Drill - secret undertakings that successfully reverse-engineered such enemy aircraft as the Russian MiG during the Cold War. Illustrated with historic color and black-and-white photographs, diagrams, and maps, this book reveals Area 51 for what it truly is: a clandestine area for the United States' most cutting-edge technological innovators in military aviation.