AIR POWER History / WINTER 2015 from the Editor
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WINTER 2015 - Volume 62, Number 4 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. Winter 2015 -Volume 62, Number 4 WWW.AFHISTORICALFOUNDATION.ORG Features “The Airplane and I Grew Up Together”: Hugh L. Dryden and the Rise Of American Aeronautics and Spaceflight Michael H. Gorn 6 Ferret: Evolution of a Design Concept Bill Cahill 22 Aerial Reconnaissance, the Press, and American Foreign Policy, 1950-54 John T. Farquhar 38 Book Reviews Libyan Air Wars Part I: 1973-1985 By Tom Cooper, Albert Grandolini, & Arnaud Delalande Review by Scott A. Willey 52 They Gave Me a Seafire By R. Mike Crosley Review by Steven Agoratus 52 Check Six! A Thunderbolt Pilot’s War Across the Pacific By James C. Curran & Terrance G. Popravak, Jr. Review by Al Mongeon 53 Operation Chowhound: The Most Risky, Most Glorious U.S. Bomber Mission of World War II By Stephen Dando-Collins Review by Frank Willingham 53 The Bridge to Airpower: Logistic Support for the Royal Flying Corps Operations on the Western Front, 1914-18 By Peter Dye Review by Thomas Wildenberg 54 To Rule the Winds: The Evolution of the British Fighter Force through Two World Wars, Volume 1 By Michael C. Fox Review by Joseph Romito 54 Flying Warbirds: An Illustrated Profile of the Flying Heritage Collection’s Rare WWII-Era Aircraft By Cory Graff Review by Daniel J. Simonsen 55 Intercept 1961: The Birth of Soviet Missile Defense By Mike Gruntman Review by Rick W. Sturdevant 55 Fighter Aircraft Combat Debuts, 1915-1945: Innovation in Air Warfare before the Jet Age By Jon Guttman Review by Frank Willingham 56 The Georgetown Set: Friends and Rivals in Cold War Washington By Gregg Herken Review by John Cirafici 56 Alan Turing: The Enigma By Andrew Hodges Review by Golda Eldridge 57 First to Fly: The Story of the Lafayette Escadrille, the American Heroes Whoe Flew for France in WWI By Charles Bracelen Flood & 57 Yanks in the RAF: The Story of the Maverick Pilots and American Volunteers Who Joined Britain’s Fight By David Alan Johnson Review by Robert Huddleston 57 Melvin Laird and the Foundation of the Post-Vietnam Military, 1969-1973 By Richard A. Hunt Review by Lawrence R. Benson 58 To Kill Nations: American Strategy in the Air-Atomic Age and the Rise of Mutually Assured Destruction By Edward Kaplan Review by John T. Farquhar 59 Viking Spitfire: The Story of Finn Thorsager By Tor Idar Larsen & Finn Thorsager Review by Joseph Romito 60 Whitey: The Story of Rear Admiral E.L. Feightner, A Navy Fighter Ace By Peter B. Mersky Review by Steven Agoratus 60 Airpower Reborn: The Strategic Concepts of John Warden and John Boyd By John Andreas Olson, ed. Review by Golda Eldridge 61 Images of America: The Oregon Air National Guard By Terrence G. Popravak, Jr., & Sean M. Popravak Review by Steven Agoratus 62 The Dakota Hunter: In Search of the Legendary DC–3 on the Last Front iers By Hans Wiesman Review by Steve Agoratus 60 I Won’t be Home Next Summer: Flight Lieutenant R. N. Selley DFC (1917-1941) By Ron Selley & Kerrin Cocks Review by Paul Jacobs 58 Japanese Fighters in defense of the Homeland, 1941-1944, Vol. I By Leszek A. Wielicko . Review by Scott A. Willey 59 The Millionaire’s Squadron: The Remarkable Story of 601 Squadron and the Flying Sword By Tom Loulson Review by Joseph Romito 60 Departments Books To Review 63 Upcoming Events, Reunions, and In Memoriam 64 New History Mystery 68 COVER: X–15 #3 with its F–104A chase aircraft touch down at Edwards AFB. (NASA Photo.) The Air Force Historical Foundation The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation Winter 2015 Volume 62 Number 4 Editor Richard I. Wolf Editor Emeritus Jacob Neufeld Air Force Historical Foundation Book Review Editor P.O. Box 790 Scott A. Willey Clinton, MD 20735-0790 (301) 736-1959 Advertising Jim Vertenten E-mail: [email protected] On the Web at http://www.afhistoricalfoundation.org Circulation Angela J. Bear Board of Directors Patron Members Maj Gen Dale W. Meyerrose, USAF (Ret.) Col Gerald F. Christeson, USAF (Ret.) Chairman Col Dennis M. Drew, USAF (Ret.) Lt Gen Charles L. Johnson II, USAF (Ret.) Maj Gen Charles J. Dunlap, Jr., USAF Air Power History (ISSN 1044-016X) is pro- First Vice Chairman Mr. Darrell Dvorak duced for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter by Lt Gen Stephen G. Wood, USAF (Ret.) Capt Robert Maxson, NOAA the Air Force Historical Foun dation. Second Vice Chairman Gen James P. McCarthy, USAF (Ret.) Prospective contributors should consult the Lt Gen Christopher D. Miller, USAF (Ret.) Lt Gen George D. Miller, USAF (Ret.) Mrs. Marilyn Moll GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS at Secretary the back of this journal. Unsolicited manu- Col Bobby Moorhatch, USAF (Ret.) Col Thomas A. Owens, USAF (Ret.) scripts will be returned only on specific Treasurer Col J Calvin Shahbaz request. The Editor cannot accept responsibil- Col Scott C. Bishop, USAF (Ret.) Brig Gen William L. Shields ity for any damage to or loss of the manu- Col William J. Dalecky, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Kenneth W. Sublett script. The Editor reserves the right to edit Lt Col (Dr.) Dik Daso, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Raymond C. Tagge, USAF (Ret.) manuscripts and letters. Lt Col Steven Gress, Jr., USAF (Ret.) Ms. Jonna Doolittle Hoppes Address LETTERS TO THE EDITOR to: CMS John R. (Doc) McCauslin, USAF (Ret.) President’s Circle Mr. Daniel R. Sitterly, USAF SES Air Power History Col William J. Dalecky, USAF (Ret.) 6022 Cromwell PL Col Wray Johnson, USAF (Ret.) Alexandria, VA 22315 e-mail: [email protected] Wing Correspondence regarding missed issues or Editor, Air Power History Northrop Grumman changes of address should be addressed to Richard I. Wolf Mr. Michael Clarke the CIRCULATION OFFICE: Editor Emeritus, Air Power History Squadron Air Power History Jacob Neufeld Maj Gen John S. Patton, USAF (Ret.) P.O. Box 790 ROKAF Historical Foundation Clinton, MD 20735-0790 (301) 736-1959 Staff Flight e-mail: [email protected] Dr. Richard P. Hallion Lt Col James A. Vertenten, USAF (Ret.) ADVERTISING Secretary to the Board and Lt Gen Christopher Miller, USAF (Ret.) Executive Director Lt Gen Michael A. Nelson, USAF (Ret.) Jim Vertenten Mrs. Angela J. Bear, Office Manager Col Wayne C. Pittman, Jr., USAF (Ret.) P.O. Box 790 Maj Willard Strandberg, Jr., USAF (Ret.) Clinton, MD 20735-0790 (301) 736-1959 e-mail: [email protected] CORPORATE SPONSORS Copyright © 2015 by the Air Force Historical Gold Level ($10,000 or more) Foundation. All rights reserved. Lockheed Martin Corporation Periodicals postage paid at Clinton, MD Torchmark Corporation 20735 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send change of address to the Circulation Office. 2 AIR POWER History / WINTER 2015 From the Editor This issue leads off with a longer than average piece, the first of a planned annual series on the life of Hugh L. Dryden, who spent over eighteen years at the head of the NACA and then as Deputy Director of NASA. Dr. Michael H. Gorn is an expert on this extremely influ- ential aviation pioneer, and will be contributing an annual piece of the Dryden story. This installment begins the story, and carries it through the education and formative years. The second article, by Bill Cahill, is about the early development of the ferret aircraft, the nascent period when eavesdropping aircraft were being invented and perfected. It’s a very interesting development, although it was not always smooth sailing. The final article is by John T. Farquhar, professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and win- ner of this year’s “Best Air Power History Article” and honored at the annual awards dinner. The article is about the impact of aerial reconnaissance on foreign policy in the early 1950s, and will probably contend for next year’s award. On page 4 please note the entire panoply of this year’s Foundation Award winners. On page 5, be sure to take in the President’s Message for the end of the year. We also have man- aged to review another nineteen books in this issue, with the able assistance of Scott Willey, our Book Review Editor.