Lam Son 719 and the Case for Airpower William P
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SUMMER 2016 - Volume 63, Number 2 WWW.AFHISTORY.ORG know the past .....Shape the Future 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. Summer 2016 -Volume 63, Number 2 WWW.AFHISTORY.ORG know the past .....Shape the Future Features They Called Defeat “Victory”: Lam Son 719 and the Case for Airpower William P. Head 7 The Air Battle for England: The Truth Behind the Failure of the Luftwaffe’s Counter-Air Campaign in 1940 Douglas C. Dildy 27 A Matter of Laundry, a Schaetzchen, and an East Wind That Blew No Good Richard K. Smith 41 Book Reviews The Desperate Diplomat: Saburo Kurusu’s Memoir of the Weeks Before Pearl Harbor By J. Garry Clifford & Masako R. Okura, eds. Review by John F. O’Connell 48 Warbird Factory: North American Aviation in World War II By John Fredrickson Review by Leslie C. Taylor 48 Gloster Aircraft Company By Derek N. James . Review by Joseph Romito 49 The Royal Air Force in American Skies: The Seven British Flight Schools in the U.S. during WWII By Tom Killebrew Review by Steve Agoratus 49 Bloody Paralyser: The Giant Handley Page Bombers of the First World War By Rob Langham Review by Carl J. Bobrow 50 Dragonfly: The Smallest Fighter...The Fastest Gun...A-37s Over Vietnam By Frederick D. Long & Lon Holtz, eds. Review by Henry Zeybel 51 Painting Aviation’s Legends: The Art of Mike Machat: Stories of theWorld’s Greatest Pilots & Aircraft By Mike Machat Review by Scott A. Willey 52 A World War II Flight Surgeon’s Story By S. Carlisle May Review by R. Ray Ortensie 52 North Flag: My Service in the Republic of Vietnam, June 1968-June 1969 By John V. Rob Review by Larry McKinley 53 The Other Space Race: Eisenhower and the Quest for Aerospace Security By Nicholas Michael Sambaluk Review by Rick W. Sturdevant 54 Harnessing the Sky: Frederick “Trap” Trapnell, the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Pioneeer, 1923-52 By Frederick M. Trapnell, Jr. & Dana Trapnell Tibbitts Review by Michael Hankins 54 No One Avoided Danger: NAS Kaneohe Bay & the Japanese Attack of 7 December 1941 By J. Michael Wenger, Robert J. Cressman & John DiVirgilio Review by Frank Willingham 55 Russian Aviation Colours 1909-1922: Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1 Early Years By Marat Khairulin & Boris Stepanov Review by Carl J. Bobrow 56 Flight Badges of the Central Powers, 1914-1918: Vol. I--Imperial Germany Aviation & Airship Badges By Robert S. Pandis Review by Carl J. Bobrow 56 KEKs and Fokkerstaffels: The Early German Fighter Units in 1915-1916 By Johan RyHeul Review by Carl J. Bobrow 56 Empire of Fear: Inside the Islamic State By Andrew Hosken Review by John Cirafici 57 The Air Force Way of War: U.S. Tactics and Training after Vietnam By Brian D. Laslie Review by Henry Zeybel 58 Thunder and Flames: Americans in the Crucible of Combat, 1917-1918 By Edward G. Lengel Review by Steven D. Ellis 59 Hell’s Angels: The True Story of the 303rd Bomb Group in World War II By Jay A. Stout Review by Steven D. Ellis 55 Pioneering American Rocketry: The Reaction Motors, Inc. (RMI) Story, 1941-1972 By Frank H. Winter & Frederick I Ordway, III, eds. Review by Al Mongeon 55 Departments Books To Review 60 Upcoming Events and Reunions 61 New History Mystery 64 COVER: ARVN forces inside Laos during Lam Son 719 watch a B–52 strike. The Air Force Historical Foundation The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation Summer 2016 Volume 63 Number 2 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.afhistory.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.) Lt Gen Charles L. Johnson, II, USAF (Ret.) the Air Force Historical Foun dation. Second Vice Chairman Mr. Richard Lawless Prospective contributors should consult the Lt Gen Christopher D. Miller, USAF (Ret.) Capt Robert Maxson, NOAA Gen James P. McCarthy, USAF (Ret.) GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS at Secretary the back of this journal. Unsolicited manu- Lt Gen George D. Miller, USAF (Ret.) Col Thomas A. Owens, USAF (Ret.) scripts will be returned only on specific Treasurer Mrs. Marilyn Moll request. The Editor cannot accept responsibil- Col Clarence R. Anderegg, USAF (Ret.) Col Bobby Moorhatch, USAF (Ret.) ity for any damage to or loss of the manu- Col Scott C. Bishop, USAF (Ret.) Col J Calvin Shahbaz script. The Editor reserves the right to edit Col William J. Dalecky, USAF (Ret.) Brig Gen William L. Shields manuscripts and letters. Lt Col (Dr.) Dik Daso, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Kenneth W. Sublett Lt Gen Robert J. Elder, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Raymond C. Tagge, USAF (Ret.) Address LETTERS TO THE EDITOR to: CMSgt Robert L. Frank, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Steven Gress, Jr., USAF (Ret.) President’s Circle Air Power History Ms. Jonna Doolittle Hoppes 6022 Cromwell PL Lt Gen Nicholas B. Kehoe, USAF (Ret.) Col William J. Dalecky, USAF (Ret.) Alexandria, VA 22315 e-mail: [email protected] Gen Lloyd W. Newton, USAF (Ret.) Col Wray Johnson, USAF (Ret.) Mr. Daniel R. Sitterly, USAF SES Correspondence regarding missed issues or Wing changes of address should be addressed to Northrop Grumman the CIRCULATION OFFICE: Mr. Michael Clarke Air Power History Editor, Air Power History Squadron P.O. Box 790 Richard I. Wolf Gen Lloyd W. Newton Clinton, MD 20735-0790 Maj Gen Dale W. Meyerrose (301) 736-1959 Editor Emeritus, Air Power History Maj Gen John S. Patton, USAF (Ret.) e-mail: [email protected] ROKAF Historical Foundation Jacob Neufeld ADVERTISING Gen William Y. Smith Jim Vertenten Staff Flight P.O. Box 790 Lt Col James A. Vertenten, USAF (Ret.) Dr. Richard P. Hallion Clinton, MD 20735-0790 Secretary to the Board and Lt Gen Christopher Miller, USAF (Ret.) (301) 736-1959 Executive Director Lt Gen Michael A. Nelson, USAF (Ret.) e-mail: [email protected] Mrs. Angela J. Bear, Office Manager Col Wayne C. Pittman, Jr., USAF (Ret.) Maj Willard Strandberg, Jr., USAF (Ret.) Copyright © 2016 by the Air Force Historical Foundation. All rights reserved. CORPORATE SPONSORS Periodicals postage paid at Clinton, MD 20735 and additional mailing offices. Gold Level ($10,000 or more) Postmaster: Please send change of address Lockheed Martin Corporation to the Circulation Office. Torchmark Corporation 2 AIR POWER History / SUMMER 2016 From the Editor In keeping with our trend toward new beginnings, this issue debuts a new look for Air Power History, the first major reimagining of the design in twenty-two years. The last re- vamp took place in 1993, after the Center for Air Force History took over production. Gus Bell was the architect of that design, and its longevity is a tribute to how well he did it. The new design is an effort to improve readability and visual appeal. We would love your feed- back on how you like it. You may contact me directly at [email protected] or send a letter or email to the Foundation offices at the addresses on page two. In this issue, we have two longer articles than normal, resulting in just three articles overall. In the first one, William Head writes on the operations into Laos in Lam Son 719. He has wanted to write on this for some time, and we are fortunate to be able to assist. Our second article is an expression by Douglas Dildy of what he feels caused the Nazi failure to defeat the RAF in the Battle of Britain. An excellent read. Our third article is a posthumous article by Richard K.