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2010-Fall.Pdf FALL 2010 - Volume 57, Number 3 WWW.AFHISTORICALFOUNDATION.ORG The Air Force Historical Foundation Founded on May 27, 1953 by Gen Carl A. “Tooey” Spaatz MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS and other air power pioneers, the Air Force Historical All members receive our exciting and informative Foundation (AFHF) is a nonprofi t tax exempt organization. Air Power History Journal, either electronically or It is dedicated to the preservation, perpetuation and on paper, covering: all aspects of aerospace history appropriate publication of the history and traditions of American aviation, with emphasis on the U.S. Air Force, its • Chronicles the great campaigns and predecessor organizations, and the men and women whose the great leaders lives and dreams were devoted to fl ight. The Foundation • Eyewitness accounts and historical articles serves all components of the United States Air Force— Active, Reserve and Air National Guard. • In depth resources to museums and activities, to keep members connected to the latest and AFHF strives to make available to the public and greatest events. today’s government planners and decision makers information that is relevant and informative about Preserve the legacy, stay connected: all aspects of air and space power. By doing so, the • Membership helps preserve the legacy of current Foundation hopes to assure the nation profi ts from past and future US air force personnel. experiences as it helps keep the U.S. Air Force the most modern and effective military force in the world. • Provides reliable and accurate accounts of historical events. The Foundation’s four primary activities include a quarterly journal Air Power History, a book program, a • Establish connections between generations. biennial symposium, and an awards program. Fall 2010 - Volume 57, Number 3 WWW.AFHISTORICALFOUNDATION.ORG Features Sixty-Five Years On: Plans and Strategy to Defeat Japan in World War II Herman S. Wolk 4 The Tuskegee Airmen in Combat Daniel L. Haulman 14 Highball! Missiles and Trains Steven A. Pomeroy 22 From Spurs to Wings: A Memoir T.R. Milton 34 Book Reviews Disaster in Korea: The Chinese Confront MacArthur By Roy E. Appleman Review by Curtis H. O’Sullivan 52 The German Army Handbook of 1918 Intro By James Beach Review by Golda Eldridge 52 A Magnificent Disaster: The Failure of Market Garden, The Arnhem Operation, September 1944 By David Bennett Review by Mark R. Condeno 52 Carrier Operations in World War II By J. D. Brown Review by Curtis H. O’Sullivan 53 Wolfram von Richthofen: Master of the German Air War By James S. Corum Review by Joe McCue 53 Realizing the Dream of Flight: Biographical Essays in Honor of the Centennial of Flight, 1903-2003 Ed. By Virginia Dawson and Mark Bowles Review by Joseph Romito 54 Remembering the Space Age: Proceedings of the 50th Anniversary Conference Ed. by Steven J. Dick Review by Grant T. Weller 54 Pentagon 9/11 By Alfred Goldberg, et al. Review by Earl W. Burress 55 The Lions of Iwo Jima: The Story of Combat Team 28 and the Bloodiest Battle in Marine Corps History By Fred Haynes and James Warren. Review by Mark R. Condeno 55 Hell in An Loc:The 1972 Easter Invasion and the Battle That Saved South Vietnam By Lam Quang Thi Review by Gary Lester 56 Jerrycan: 70 Years Old and Still in Service By Philippe Leger Review by Daniel J. Simonsen 56 Military Transformation Past and Present:Historical Lessons for the 21st Century By Mark D. Mandeles Review by David Schepp 57 DC–3: A Legend in Her Time: A 75th Anniversary Photographic Tribute By Bruce McAllister Review by Scott A. Willey 57 The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War By Nicholas Thompson Review by Lawrence R. Benson 58 RAND and the Information Evolution: A History in Essays and Vignettes By Willis H. Ware Review by Rick W. Sturdevant 58 NATO’s Gamble: Combining Diplomacy and Airpower in the Kosovo Crisis, 1998-1999 By Dag Henriksen Review by Stan VanderWerf 59 Hubert R. Harmon: Airman, Officer, Father of the Air Force Academy By Phillip S. Meilinger Review by John G. Terino, Jr. 60 Departments Reader’s Forum : Reflections on the Balkan Air Wars 46 Editor’s Note: Lavelle Told the Truth 50 Books Received 61 From the President 62 News, Reunions, In Memoriam, and History Mystery 64 COVER: A Minuteman missile takes off during a test launch. The Air Force Historical Foundation The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation Fall 2010 Volume 57 Number 3 Publisher Alfred F. Hurley Editor Jacob Neufeld Technical Editor Robert F. Dorr Air Force Historical Foundation Book Review Editor P.O. Box 790 Scott A. Willey Clinton, MD 20735-0790 Layout and Typesetting (301) 736-1959 Richard I. Wolf Advertising E-mail: [email protected] Jim Vertenten On the Web at http://www.afhistoricalfoundation.org Circulation Officers, 2010 Board of Directors, 2010 Angela J. Bear President/Chairman of the Board and Col Kenneth J. Alnwick, USAF (Ret) Chair, Executive Committee Lt Gen Russell C. Davis, USAF (Ret) Air Power History (ISSN 1044-016X) Maj Gen Dale W. Meyerrose, USAF (Ret) CMSgt Rick Dean, USAF (Ret) is produced for Spring, Summer, Fall, and 1st Vice Chairman Maj Gen Kenneth M. DeCuir, USAF (Ret) Winter by the Air Force Historical Foun- Gen John A. Shaud, USAF (Ret) Gen Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF (Ret) dation. 2nd Vice Chairman and Chair, Col Charles J. Gross, USAFR (Ret) Development Committee Col Richard G. Hellier, USAF (Ret) Prospective contributors should consult the Maj Gen Silas R. Johnson, Jr., USAF (Ret) Brig Gen Alfred F. Hurley, USAF (Ret) GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS at the back of this journal. Unsolicited manu- Treasurer and Chair, Maj Gen Silas R. Johnson, Jr., USAF (Ret) scripts will be returned only on specific Finance Committee Lt Gen Timothy A. Kinnan, USAF (Ret) request. The Editor cannot accept responsi- Lt Col Lawrence Spinetta, USAF Mr John F. Kreis bility for any damage to or loss of the man- Chair, Membership Committee Maj Gen Dale W. Meyerrose, USAF (Ret) uscript. The Editor reserves the right to Col Richard G. Hellier, USAF (Ret.) Jacob Neufeld edit manuscripts and letters. Chair, Services Committee Gen John A. Shaud, USAF (Ret) Maj Willard Strandberg, Jr., USAF (Ret) Lt Col Lawrence Spinetta, USAF Address Letters to the Editor to: Chair, Technology Committee Maj Willard Strandberg, Jr., USAF (Ret) Air Power History Maj Gen Kenneth M. DeCuir, USAF (Ret.) Col Jere Wallace, USAF (Ret) 11908 Gainsborough Rd. Publisher Potomac, MD 20854 Brig Gen Alfred F. Hurley, USAF (Ret) CORPORATE SPONSORS, 2010 e-mail: [email protected] Executive Director Lt Col Jim Vertenten, USAF (Ret) Platinum Level ($20,000 or more) Correspondence regarding missed issues Lockheed Martin Corporation or changes of address should be addressed to the Circulation Office: Gold Level ($10,000 or more) New Life Members, EADS North America Air Power History Apr. – Jul. 2010 P.O. Box 790 Brig Gen Walter Givhan, USAF (Ret) Clinton, MD 20735-0790 Telephone: (301) 736-1959 SPONSORSHIPS e-mail: [email protected] The list of Contributing Members grew Apr. – Jul. 2010 so large this issue that it exceeded the Advertising available space. The list may be found on Harris Corporation $5,000 page 65. Rockwell Collins $1,500 Jim Vertenten P.O. Box 790 Clinton, MD 20735-0790 (301) 736-1959 e-mail: [email protected] Copyright © 2010 by the Air Force Historical Foundation. All rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Clinton, MD 20735 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send change of address to the Circulation Office. 2 AIR POWER History / FALL 2010 From the Editor We dedicate this issue of Air Power History in memory of Herman S. Wolk, “a histori- an’s historian,” who died on May 6, 2010. The last article he wrote, “Sixty-Five Years On: Strategy to Defeat Japan in World War II,” leads off the Fall 2010 features. Typically, Herm preferred to tackle the larger issues, such as, grand strategy. His spouse and life-long part- ner, Sandy Wolk, edited the article through publication. Herm’s book, Reflections on Air Force Independence, was judged the “Best Air Power History Book for 2009.” (See page 63) A final tribute appears on page 67. A frequent contributor, Dan Haulman is known as a meticulous and dogged researcher who will devote years to track down historical facts, if necessary. In his latest article, Haulman finds the claim that in 200 escort missions the 332d Fighter Group never lost a bomber to enemy aircraft, is false. Nonetheless, despite the disadvantages, injustice, and bigotry they endured, Haulman concludes that the Tuskegee Airmen posted a most remarkable combat record in World War II. In “Highball! Missiles and Trains,” Steven Pomeroy examines the strategic, technologi- cal, and political considerations of designing a mobile intercontinental ballistic missile, specifically the Mobile Minuteman ICBM. In following a “road not taken,” the author reveals the rationales motivating the advocates and opponents of mobility schemes. Readers will find interesting his discussion of the ramifications of survivability during the last years of the Cold War. T. R. “Ross” Milton’s “From Spurs to Wings,” which anchors this issue, is an extract of his fabulous yet-to-be-published memoir. Among the last of his generation, General Milton lived history, made history, and wrote history. The latter, elegantly written and adroitly observed, tracks his life through the 1930s, West Point, and flight school. And he does not flinch from “telling it like it was.” Speaking of which, can you handle the truth? If you answered yes, turn to page 56, “Lavelle Told the Truth.” Also, don’t miss the “Readers’ Forum,” a debate over the Balkan Air Wars, between Patrick Dennis and Benjamin Lambeth, beginning on page 46.
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