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SPRING 2018 - Volume 65, Number 1 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. Spring 2018 -Volume 65, Number 1 WWW.AFHISTORY.ORG know the past .....Shape the Future Features Creating America’s First Spy Satellite: Captain James S. Coolbaugh and the Student Airmen at MIT Thomas Wildenberg 7 Bombing the Romanian Rail Network Luke Truxal 15 The Russian Air Force Versus the Luftwaffe: A Western European View A. D. Harvey 23 Ideas and Weapons: A Critique Robert B. Casari 31 Far East Air Forces RCM Operations in the Final Push on Japan William Cahill 37 Book Reviews It’s My Country Too By Jerri Bell and Tracy Crow, Eds. Review by Golda Eldridge 48 Flying Man: Hugo Junkers and the Dream of Aviation By Richard Byers Review by Scott M. Willey 48 American Airpower Strategy in World War II: Bombs, Cities, Civilians and Oil By Conrad C. Crane Review by Steve Agoratus 49 We Were Going to Win, or Die There: With the Marines at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and Saipan By Roy H. Elrod and Fred H. Allison Review by Forrest L. Marion 49 SR–71 Flight Manual, The Official Pilot’s Handbook, Declassified and Expanded with Commentary By Richard H. Graham Review by Leslie C. Taylor 52 The Tuskegee Airmen Chronology By Daniel L. Haulman Review by Al Stettner 52 Testbeds, Motherships & Parasites: Astonishing Aircraft From the Golden Age of Flight Test By Frederick A. Johnson Review by Scott A. Willey 53 The Few: The American “Knights of the Air” Who Risked Everything to Save Britain in the Summer of 1940 By Alex Kershaw . Review by Robert Huddleston 53 Air Officer Commanding: Hugh Dowding, Architect of the Battle of Britain By John T. LaSaine, Jr. Review by Frank Willingham 54 Bringing Columbia Home: The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew By Michael D. Leinbach and Jonathan H. Ward Review by Joseph Romito 55 Flying against Fate: Superstition and Allied Aircrews in World War II By S.P. MacKenzie Review by Kenneth P. Werrell 56 Glenn Miller Declassified By Dennis M. Spragg Review by Golda Eldridge 57 The Vietnam War: An Intimate History By Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns Review by John Cirafici 57 The Imagineers of War: The Untold Story of DARPA, the Pentagon Agency that Changed the World By Sharon Weinberger Review by Rick W. Sturdevant 58 Thomas J. Paone Departments President’s Message 6 Upcoming Events, In Memoriam, and Reunions 60 New History Mystery 64 COVER: Launch of a CORONA satellite on August 13, 1959. The Air Force Historical Foundation The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation Spring 2018 Volume 65 Number 1 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 Lt Gen Christopher D. Miller, 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 Dr. John Farquhar duced for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter by Lt Gen Nicholas B. Kehoe, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Raymond Fredette, USAF (Ret.) the Air Force Historical Foun dation. Second Vice Chairman Dr. Rebecca Grant Prospective contributors should consult the Lt Gen Charles R. Heflebower, USAF (Ret.) Dr. Jerome V. Martin Capt Robert Maxson, NOAA 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 Col Bobby Moorhatch, USAF (Ret.) request. The Editor cannot accept responsibil- Col Clarence R. Anderegg, USAF (Ret.) Brig Gen Wade R. Smith ity for any damage to or loss of the manu- Col Scott C. Bishop, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Raymond C. Tagge, USAF (Ret.) script. The Editor reserves the right to edit Col William J. Dalecky, USAF (Ret.) manuscripts and letters. Lt Col (Dr.) Dik Daso, USAF (Ret.) President’s Circle Lt Gen Robert J. Elder, USAF (Ret.) Col William J. Dalecky, USAF (Ret.) Address LETTERS and manuscripts to: CMSgt Robert L. Frank, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Kenneth W. Sublett, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Steven Gress, Jr., USAF (Ret.) Air Power History Ms. Jonna Doolittle Hoppes Benefactor 3043 Sunny Ridge Drive Maj Gen Timothy C. Jones, USAF (Ret.) Mr. Darrell Dvorak Odenton, MD 21113 e-mail: [email protected] Gen Lloyd W. Newton, USAF (Ret.) MSgt Keith A. Reed, USAF (Ret.) DONATIONS Mr. Michael Clarke Correspondence regarding missed issues or Lt Gen Robert J. Elder, USAF (Ret.) changes of address should be addressed to Emeritus the CIRCULATION OFFICE: Maj Gen Dale W. Meyerrose, USAF (Ret.) Lt Gen Charles L. Johnson II, USAF (Ret.) Chairman Lt Gen Nicholas B. Kehoe, USAF (Ret.) Air Power History Maj Gen Dale W. Meyerrose, USAF (Ret.) P.O. Box 790 Lt Gen Christopher Miller, USAF (Ret.) Clinton, MD 20735-0790 Editor, Air Power History Gen Lloyd W. Newton, USAF (Ret.) (301) 736-1959 Richard I. Wolf Robert and Kim Nimmons e-mail: [email protected] Maj Gen John Patton, USAF (Ret.) ADVERTISING Editor Emeritus, Air Power History Pratt & Whitney Lt Gen Stephen Wood, USAF (Ret.) Jacob Neufeld Jim Vertenten CORPORATE SPONSORS P.O. Box 790 Clinton, MD 20735-0790 Staff (301) 736-1959 Lt Col James A. Vertenten, USAF (Ret.) Gold Level ($10,000 or more) e-mail: [email protected] Secretary to the Board and Lockheed Martin Corporation Executive Director Copyright © 2018 by the Air Force Historical Mrs. Angela J. Bear, Office Manager 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 / SPRING 2018 From the Editor This issue seems to be mainly centered on World War II, with three articles on the sub- ject, one on space, and one on a more contentious topic in air power historiography. Our first article is an excellent piece by a frequent contributor, Thomas Wildenberg and his history of the CORONA reconnaissance program and the debt it owes to some scientists at MIT. It’s a fascinating story. The second article is by a new contributor, Luke Truxal, as he examines the air combat operations involved in bombing the Romanian front in 1944. The topic suffers somewhat from historical inattention, so it’s a pleasure to include it. Our third article is from an old friend of the magazine A.D. Harvey, and he covers the Russian air effort against the Luftwaffe. It is also an area that is not written about very much, so it’s nice to give it a viewing. The fourth article is a bit more controversial. The author, a retired engineer named Robert Casari, has taken on air power icon I.B. Holley and his conclusions in the seminal Ideas and Weapons. By all means, take a few minutes and see if you agree. It’s very fasci- nating reading. The final article is by another regular contributor, William Cahill, and his favorite topic of electronic warfare in World War II. I think this piece on RCM in the late stages of the war against Japan is a valuable contribution. As always, we include the usual accompanying book reviews, of which we have provided fourteen this issue. If you have read a book that seems to fit our subject category, and would like to contribute a review, take a look at the contact information on page 59 to send it to our book review editor. Finally, we include our lists of upcoming historical conferences and events, reunions, and an In Memoriam, all starting on page 60. Don’t miss photographic coverage of our annual award event, found starting on page 4. If you couldn’t attend the award banquet and ceremonies, be sure and check out the cover- age.