WINTER 2003 - Volume 50, Number 4 Wanted!! Young Readers Air Force Historical Foundation Benefits of Membership Besides publishing the quarterly journal Air Power History, the Foundation fulfills a most unique mis- sion by acting as a focal point on matters relating to air power generally, and the United States Air Force in particular. Among its many worthy involvements, the Foundation underwrites the publication of meaningful works in air power history, co-sponsors air power symposia with a Dont throw in the cards. national scope, and provides awards to deserving scholars. In 1953, a virtual “hall of fame” in aviation, including Generals Spaatz, Eaker Vandenberg, Twining, andFoulois, met to form the Air Force Historical Deal Yourself a Winning Hand! Foundation, “to preserve and perpetuate the history and traditions of the U.S. Air Force and its predecessor organizations and of those whose lives have been devoted to the service.” By joining, one becomes part of this great fellowship doing worth- Join the Air Force Historical Foundation. while work, and receives an exceptional quarterly publication as well. Dont miss another issue. Come Join Us! Become a member. WINTER 2003 - Volume 50, Number 4 “Whiz Kid:”Robert S. McNamara’s World War II Service George M. Watson, Jr. and Herman S. Wolk 4 Kennedy’s Space Policy Reconsidered: A Post-Cold War Perspective Roger D. Launius 16 Every Man a Tiger: The RF-86A Sabre in Tactical Reconnaissance Operations during the Korean War John H. Mahan 30 Misty FACs of the Vietnam War Phil Haun 38 A Hero of the Soviet Union: Georgi Mosolov Rodney Rogers 46 Book Reviews 56 Punk’s War by Ward Carroll Reviewed by Thomas W. McGarry 56 Air Power History: Turning Points from Kitty Hawk to Kosovo by Sebastian Cox and Peter Gray, Eds. Reviewed by Carl A. Christie 56 Science and Technology; The Making of the Air Force Research Laboratory by Robert W. Duffner Reviewed by John H. Barnhill 57 Peacekeeping Fiascos of the 1990s: Causes, Solutions, and U. S. Interests by Frederick H. Fleitz, Jr. Reviewed by Kevin Dougherty 58 The Road to Rainbow: Army Planning for Global War 1934-1940 by Henry G. Gole Reviewed by Curtis H. O’Sullivan 58 Expanding the Envelope: Flight Research at NACA and NASA by Michael H. Gorn Reviewed by Steve Horn 59 Thirty Seconds over Tokyo by Ted W. Lawson Reviewed by Jim McClain 62 The Hostile Sky: A Hellcat Flyer in World War II by James W. Vernon Reviewed by Larry Richmond 63 El Dorado Canyon: Reagan’s Undeclared War with Qaddafi by Joseph T. Stanik Reviewed by Kenneth Werrell 63 History of the 504th Bomb Group (H) in World War II & Accused American War Criminal by Fiske Hanley II Reviewed by Scott Willey 64 Airmen and Air Theory: A Review of Sources by Phillip S. Meilinger Reviewed by I. B. Holley, Jr 64 The Technological Arsenal: Emerging Defense Capabilities by William C. Martel Reviewed by I. B. Holley, Jr 65 Books Received 66 History Mystery 67 Coming Up 68 Changing of the Guard 70 Letters, News, Notices, Reunions, and In Memoriam 72 COVER: Appollo 17 launches at night. (NASA Photo) 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 Winter 2003 Volume 50 Number 4 Publisher Officers Contributing Members Brian S. Gunderson President The individuals and companies listed are contributing Editor Lt. Gen. Michael A. Nelson, USAF (Ret) members of the Air Force Historical Foundation. The Jacob Neufeld Vice-President Foundation Trustees and members are grateful for their Gen. John A. Shaud, USAF (Ret) support and contributions to preserving, perpetuating, Technical Editor Secretary-Treasurer and publishing the history and traditions of American Robert F. Dorr Maj. Gen. John S. Patton, USAF (Ret) aviation. Executive Director Book Review Editor Col. Joseph A. Marston, USAF (Ret) Benefactor Mrs. Ruth A. (Ira C.) Eaker Estate Scott A. Willey Advisors Layout and Typesetting Gen. John P. Jumper, USAF Patron Richard I. Wolf Lt. Gen. John R. Dallager, USAF Maj. Gen. Ramsay Potts Advertising Lt. Gen. Donald A. Lamontagne, USAF Quesada Foundation Brig. Gen. Frederick F. Roggero, USAF Mark D. Mandeles CMSAF Gerald R. Murray, USAF Mr. C. R. “Dick” Anderegg Sponsors Circulation Maj. Gen. William Lyon Richard I. Wolf Maj. Gen. John S. Patton Board of Trustees Gen. William Y. Smith Col. Kenneth J. Alnwick, USAF (Ret) Mr. F. Clifton Berry, Jr. Donors Air Power History (ISSN 1044-016X) Lt.Gen. John Conaway, USAF (Ret) Mr. John F. Donahue is produced in March, June, September, Lt.Gen. Russell C. Davis, USAF (Ret) Emerson Electric and December by the Air Force Historical Gen. Michael J. Dugan, USAF (Ret) Rockwell International Foundation. Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF(Ret) Gen. Bernard A. Schriever Maj.Gen. John P. Henebry, USAF (Ret) Prospective contributors should consult the Col. George A. Henry, Jr., USAF (Ret) GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS at Gen. Robert T. Herres, USAF (Ret) Supporters the back of this journal. Unsolicited manu- Lt.Gen. Bradley C. Hosmer, USAF (Ret) The Aerospace Corporation Brig.Gen. Alfred F. Hurley, USAF (Ret) Allied-Signal Aerospace Corporation scripts will be returned only on specific Brig.Gen. James A. Jaeger, USAF (Ret) Arthur Metcalf Foundation request. The Editor cannot accept responsi- Mr. John Kreis, USAF (Ret) Lt. Gen. John B. Conaway, USAF (Ret) bility for any damage to or loss of the man- Gen. Walter Kross, USAF (Ret) CSX Corporation uscript. The Editor reserves the right to Lt.Col. Kathy La Sauce, USAF (Ret) Gen. Howell M. Estes, Jr., USAF (Ret) edit manuscripts and letters. Maj.Gen. Charles D. Link, USAF (Ret) Brig. Gen. Brian S. Gunderson Hon. Hans Mark Maj. Gen. John P. Henebry Address Letters to the Editor to: CMSgt Norman A. Marous, USAF Gen. & Mrs. Robert T. Herres Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr., USAF(Ret) Maj. Gen. Harold E. Humfeld Air Power History CMSgtAF Sam E. Parish, USAF (Ret) McDonnell Douglas Foundation P.O. Box 10328 Col. Robert E. Vickers, Jr., USAF (Ret) Mrs. Irene W. McPherson Rockville, MD 20849-0328 Col. George Weinbrenner, USAF(Ret) Maj. Gen. Kenneth P. Miles e-mail: [email protected] Northrop-Grumman Corporation Trustees Emeriti Mr. William O’Rourke Correspondence regarding missed issues Mr. James Parton or changes of address should be addressed Lt. Col. Maynard Y. Binge, USAF (Ret) Mr. George Pendelton Lt.Gen. Devol Brett, USAF (Ret) Pratt & Whitney to the Circulation Office: Lt.Gen. William E. Brown, USAF (Ret) United Technologies Air Power History Lt.Gen. Charles G. Cleveland, USAF (Ret) Capt. William C. Ward P.O. Box 151150 Gen. Bennie L. Davis, USAF (Ret) Maj. Gen. Richard A. Yudkin Alexandria, Virginia 22315 Gen. Howell M. Estes, Jr., USAF (Ret) Telephone: (301) 981-2139 Mr. John E. Greenwood Fax: (703) 923-0848 Brig.Gen. Brian S. Gunderson, USAF (Ret) e-mail: [email protected] Dr. I. B. Holley, Jr. Annual Contributing Members Maj.Gen. Jeanne M. Holm, USAF (Ret) ANSER Gen. David C. Jones, USAF (Ret) ARX, Inc. Advertising Lt.Col. Donald S. Lopez, USAF (Ret) ASTECH/MCI Manufacturing, Inc. Col. Kenneth Moll, USAF (Ret) Beech Aircraft Corporation Mark Mandeles Col. Helen E. O’Day, USAF (Ret) Boeing Defense & Space Group 8910 Autumn Leaf Ct. Hon. Verne Orr General Electric Company Fairfax, VA 22301 Maj.Gen. John S. Patton, USAF (Ret) Instrument Systems Corp. (703) 426-5147; fax 426-5149 Maj.Gen. Ramsay D. Potts, USAF (Ret) Litton Industries e-mail: [email protected] Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Ret) Lockheed Martin Corp. Gen. W. Y. Smith, USAF (Ret) The Mitre Corporation Copyright © 2003 by the Air Force MSgt. Charles J. Warth, USAF (Ret) Northrop Corporation Historical Foundation. All rights reserved. Col. Sherman W. Wilkins, USAF (Ret) Vinell Corporation Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, VA Maj.Gen. Richard A. Yudkin, USAF (Ret) 24450 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send change of address to the Circulation Office. 2 AIR POWER History / WINTER 2003 From the Editor As we near the end of the centennial of flight year—also the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of the Air Force Historical Foundation—we observe yet another “changing of the guard.” Thus, we bid a fond farewell to Gen. W. Y. Smith, president since 1996, and a warm welcome to his suc- cessor, Lt. Gen. Michael A. Nelson. (See pages 70-71). This issue includes a broad mixture of articles. The first, “Whiz Kid,” is an interview with Robert S. McNamara, by Air Force historians Herman Wolk and George Watson. However, the interview with the former secretary of defense is not about the Vietnam War. Rather, it is about his service as a captain in the Army Air Forces during World War II. “Kennedy’s Space Policy Reconsidered,” takes a fresh look at the President’s May 25, 1961 commitment “before this [1960s] decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.” Roger Launius, the former chief historian of NASA, examines the decision’s con- temporary historical context, an alternative approach advocated by President Eisenhower, as well as the consequences of Project Apollo. Who says the Air Force doesn’t have its Mahan? That is, Second Lt. John H. Mahan. He has refined an Air Force Academy student paper into an article on the limited, but invaluable role of the RF-86A Sabre in tactical reconnaissance during the Korean War. Fourth, Phil Haun’s “Misty FACs of the Vietnam War,” recounts the story of intrepid men who volunteered to fly forward air control “for 120 days or 60 missions, whichever came first.” Among those volunteers were “Tony” McPeak, “Ron” Fogleman, “Bud” Day, and “Dick” Rutan.