Description
Book SynopsisDescribes how American airmen, horrified by World War I's trench warfare, turned to the progressive ideas of efficiency and economy in an effort to reform war itself, with the heavy bomber as their solution to limiting the bloodshed. They were convinced that the airplane, used as a bombing platform, offered the means to make wars less lethal than conflicts waged by armies or navies.
Trade Review"A thoughtful and well written account of a central thread in the thinking of American airpower advocates and the way its implementation in two world wars took place at the time, was seen afterwards, and has come to be enormously influential in the decision process of our country's leaders into the twenty-first century."-Gerhard L. Weinberg, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and winner of the Pritzker Military Library Literature Award -- Gerhard L. Weinberg "This is military, intellectual history at its best."-Colonel Gian P. Gentile, Journal of American History -- Colonel Gian P Gentile Journal of American History "A solid and impressive study that will enlighten those interested in the formation of bombing theory (Douhet through Warden) and especially its practice in World War II."-Kenneth P. Werrell, Air Power History -- Kenneth P. Werrell Air Power History "Beneficial Bombing views a somewhat familiar tale through a fresh interpretive lens, complementing other works examining air power's morality and effectiveness... Based almost entirely on new research in a wide array of primary sources, it illuminates the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings of America's air power."-Richard R. Muller, Journal of Military History -- Richard R. Muller Journal of Military History
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Source Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Genesis in the Great War
2. Progressive Prophecy
3. From Prophecy to Plan
4. Breaching Fortress Europe, 1942-43
5. Bludgeoning with Bombs: Germany, 1944-45
6. Fire from the Sky: Japan, 1944-45
7. Progressive Legacies
Notes
Bibliography
Index
