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The Red Baron Reports: What They Really Said Italian Aircraft in Russia FALL 2005 - Volume 52, Number 3 The Red Baron Reports: What They Really Said William Sayers 4 Italian Aircraft in Russia Viktor P. Kulikov 14 Airlifts in Time Justin Giovannettone 26 Committing to the Shuttle Without Ever Having a National Policy L. Parker Temple III 36 Book Reviews 52 Splendid Vision, Unswerving Purpose: Developing Air Power for the Untied States Air Force during the First Century of Powered Flight 52 By ASD Staff. Reviewed by Squire Brown. Stauffenberg: A Family History, 1905-1944. 52 By Peter Hoffman. Reviewed by I.B. Holley, Jr. Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces. 53 By Linda Robinson. Reviewed by I.B. Holley, Jr. Martin P6M SeaMaster: The Most Advanced Seaplane Ever Built. 54 By Stan Piet and Al Raithel. Reviewed by James C. Kellogg Lone Star Stalag: German Prisoners of War at Camp Hearne. 54 By Michael R. Waters, et al. Reviewed by Scott D. Murdock. Rattler One-Seven: A Viet Nam Helicopter Pilot’s War Story. 54 By Chuck Gross. Reviewed by William A. Nardo. Commandants of the Marine Corps. 56 By Allan R. Millett and Jack Shulimson, eds. Reviewed by Curtis H. O’Sullivan Hit to Kill: The New Battle over Shielding America from Missile Attack. 57 By Bradley Graham. Reviewed by Joseph Romito. Rhetoric and Reality in Air Warfare: The Evolution of British and American Ideas about Strategic Bombing, 1914-1945. 57 By Tami Davis Biddle. Reviewed by Nicholas Evan Sarantakes. Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal 32: Air Power: Anglo-American Perspectives. 58 By C.G. Jefford, ed. Reviewed by Nicholas Evan Sarantakes. Billy Mitchell “Stormy Petrel of the Air.” 59 By Roger G. Miller. Reviewed by Jim Schier Chasing the Silver Bullet: U.S. Air Force Weapons Development from Vietnam to Desert Storm 59 By Kenneth P. Werrell. Reviewed by George M. Watson, Jr. Woodbine Red Leader: A P–51 Mustang Ace in the Mediterranean Theater. 60 By George Loving Reviewed by Scott A. Willey Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom 61 By Conrad Black Reviewed by John R. Braddon Books Received 62 Coming Up 64 Letters, News, Notices, Reunions 66 In Memoriam: General Bernard A. Schriever 67 History Mystery 68 COVER: The Space Shuttle lifts off. (Photo courtesy of NASA.) The Air Force Historical Foundation Air Force Historical Foundation 1535 Command Drive – Suite A122 Andrews AFB, MD 20762-7002 (301) 981-2139 (301) 981-3574 Fax E-Mail: [email protected] The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation http://afhistoricalfoundation.com Fall 2005 Volume 52 Number 3 Publisher Officers Contributing Members Editor President The individuals and companies listed are contributing Jacob Neufeld Lt. Gen. Michael A. Nelson, USAF (Ret) members of the Air Force Historical Foundation. The Vice-President Foundation Trustees and members are grateful for their Technical Editor Gen. John A. Shaud, USAF (Ret) support and contributions to preserving, perpetuating, Robert F. Dorr Secretary-Treasurer and publishing the history and traditions of American Maj. Gen. John S. Patton, USAF (Ret) aviation. Book Review Editor Executive Director Col. George K. Williams, USAF (Ret) Scott A. Willey Layout and Typesetting Advisors Donors Richard I. Wolf Advertising Gen. John P. Jumper, USAF Lt Gen John B. Conaway, USAF (Ret) Lt. Gen. John R. Dallager, USAF Col Kenneth Moll, USAF (Ret) George K. Williams Lt. Gen. Donald A. Lamontagne, USAF Lt Gen Michael A. Nelson, USAF (Ret) Brig. Gen. Frederick F. Roggero, USAF Maj Gen John S. Patton, USAF (Ret) Circulation CMSAF Gerald R. Murray, USAF Gen W. Y. Smith, USAF (Ret) Richard I. Wolf Mr. C. R. “Dick” Anderegg Supporters Board of Trustees ATV Capital Management, Inc. Air Power History (ISSN 1044-016X) Mrs. Irene W. McPherson is produced in March, June, September, Col. Kenneth J. Alnwick, USAF (Ret) Maj Gen Richard A. Yudkin and December by the Air Force Historical Mr. F. Clifton Berry, Jr. Foundation. Maj.Gen. Ralph S. Clem, USAF (Ret) Lt.Gen. John B. Conaway, USAF (Ret) Friends Prospective contributors should consult the Lt.Gen. Russell C. Davis, USAF (Ret) GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS at Gen. Michael J. Dugan, USAF (Ret) Mr. F. Clifton Berry, Jr. the back of this journal. Unsolicited manu- Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF(Ret) Lt Col Maynard Y. Binge, USAF (Ret) Maj.Gen. John P. Henebry, USAF (Ret) Brig Gen Alfred F. Hurley, USAF (Ret) scripts will be returned only on specific Col. George A. Henry, Jr., USAF (Ret) The Honorable Hans Mark request. The Editor cannot accept responsi- Lt.Gen. Bradley C. Hosmer, USAF (Ret) Col Helen E. O’Day, USAF (Ret) bility for any damage to or loss of the man- Brig.Gen. Alfred F. Hurley, USAF (Ret) The Honorable Verne Orr uscript. The Editor reserves the right to Brig.Gen. James A. Jaeger, USAF (Ret) edit manuscripts and letters. Mr. John Kreis, USAF (Ret) Gen. Walter Kross, USAF (Ret) Address Letters to the Editor to: Maj.Gen. Charles D. Link, USAF (Ret) Hon. Hans Mark Air Power History CMSgt Norman A. Marous, USAF P.O. Box 10328 Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr., USAF(Ret) Rockville, MD 20849-0328 CMSgtAF Sam E. Parish, USAF (Ret) e-mail: [email protected] Col. Robert E. Vickers, Jr., USAF (Ret) Col. George Weinbrenner, USAF(Ret) Correspondence regarding missed issues or changes of address should be addressed Trustees Emeriti to the Circulation Office: Air Power History Lt. Col. Maynard Y. Binge, USAF (Ret) P.O. Box 151150 Lt.Gen. Devol Brett, USAF (Ret) Alexandria, Virginia 22315 Lt.Gen. William E. Brown, USAF (Ret) Telephone: (301) 981-2139 Lt.Gen. Charles G. Cleveland, USAF (Ret) Fax: (301) 981-3574 Gen. Bennie L. Davis, USAF (Ret) Gen. Howell M. Estes, Jr., USAF (Ret) e-mail: [email protected] Mr. John E. Greenwood Gen. Robert T. Herres, USAF (Ret) Advertising Dr. I. B. Holley, Jr. Maj.Gen. Jeanne M. Holm, USAF (Ret) George K. Williams Gen. David C. Jones, USAF (Ret) 1535 Command Dr--Suite A-122 Lt.Col. Donald S. Lopez, USAF (Ret) Andrews AFB, MD 20762-7002 Col. Kenneth Moll, USAF (Ret) (301) 981-2139; fax (301) 981-3574 Col. Helen E. O’Day, USAF (Ret) e-mail: [email protected] Hon. Verne Orr Maj.Gen. John S. Patton, USAF (Ret) Copyright © 2005 by the Air Force Maj.Gen. Ramsay D. Potts, USAF (Ret) Historical Foundation. All rights reserved. Gen. W. Y. Smith, USAF (Ret) Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, VA MSgt. Charles J. Warth, USAF (Ret) 24450 and additional mailing offices. Col. Sherman W. Wilkins, USAF (Ret) Maj.Gen. Richard A. Yudkin, USAF (Ret) Postmaster: Please send change of address to the Circulation Office. 2 AIR POWER History / FALL 2005 From the Editor By now most readers of Air Power History have learned the sad news of the passing of General Bernard A. “Bennie” Schriever, on June 20, 2005. [See page 67.] He was in frail health for many months before, but his death still came as a shock to those of us who were privileged to know him. The “father” of Air Force missiles and space systems, General Schriever was one of the makers of the United States Air Force and its preeminent vision- ary. He leaves a tremendous void in the ranks, but his legacy will endure in both his great works and the generation of Airmen/scientists whom he inspired. General Schriever’s desire to be buried near his mentor, General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold, at Arlington National Cemetery was honored * * * The lead article in this issue is William Sayers’s “The Red Baron Studies: What They Really Said.” Sayers painstakingly reviews the air combat statistics of the U.S. Air Force and Navy during the Vietnam War. His expert analysis challenges the popularly accepted conclusions and should stir up the adherents of the “conventional wisdom.” In “Airlifts in Time,” Jason Giovannettone applies the methodology of historians Richard Neustadt and Ernest May that was demonstrated in their fascinating 1986 book, Thinking in Time: The Uses of History for Decision Makers. Giovannettone uses the Neustadt—May thesis to draw lessons from two historic events: the Berlin Airlift and the resupply of Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In the third article, Viktor Kulikov, our correspondent in Moscow, continues his series on the origins of Russian aviation. In this article, Kulikov presents the history of Russia’s acquisition of Italian planes beginning in World War I and running to the 1930s. Not only is this an eye-opening story, but the photographs offer a great deal of information and rich detail. As we go to press, at the end of July, the Space Shuttle Discovery is on orbit, docked with the Space Station. NASA officials are pondering the consequences of a chunk of foam insu- lation that fell off on launch. This event dramatizes our fourth article, Parker Temple’s recounting of NASA’s total commitment to the Space Shuttle. He asks such provocative questions as: Who made the commitment to rely on the Shuttle and why? Was this com- mitment justified? and What were the consequences of this decision? More than a dozen new books are reviewed in this issue of Air Power History. The reviewers are scholars, Airmen, and air enthusiasts; they all share a love for reading and an appreciation for air power literature. If you are interested in reviewing books, check the books received list [p. 62], then contact Scott Willey. If the review is accepted, you’ll be “pub- lished,” impress your friends, and earn a free copy of the book. Air Power History and the Air Force Historical Foundation disclaim responsibility for statements, either of fact or of opinion, made by contributors.
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