Aerial warfare : the battle for the skies.

Description

Aerial warfare has dominated western war-making for over 100 years, and despite regular announcements of its demise, it shows no sign of becoming obsolete. Frank Ledwidge offers a sweeping global history of air warfare, introducing the major battles, crises, and controversies where air power has taken centre stage. Cover AERIAL WARFARE: The Battle for the Skies Copyright CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 1: Foundations Anatomy of an Air Strike The Four Roles of Air Power: Control of the Air Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Attack Mobility Dimensions 2: Beginnings: The First World War 1914-1918 Reconnaissance Control of the Air Attack Strategic Bombing in WW1 Air Power at Sea Setting the Terms of Air Power 3: Theory and Practice: The Interwar Years 1919-1939 Supplying the Structures: Independent Air Forces. Providing the IdeasDeveloping the Aircraft Rise of the Fighter Strategic Bombing Begins in Earnest: Spain and China 1936-9 4: The Second World War: Air Operations in the West Air Power on the Battlefield 1939-45 Securing Control of the Air: The Battle of Britain 1940 â#x80 #x98 Reaping the Whirlwindâ#x80 #x99 : The Bomber Offensives 1942-5 Technology Improves The Bomber Offensive becomes â#x80 #x98 Combinedâ#x80 #x99 The Bombing War in Europe: Results and Controversy Air Power at Sea 5: The Second World War: The Air War in the Pacific â#x80 #x98 Island Hoppingâ#x80 #x99 Strategic Bombing in the Far East The Atomic Raids. Air Power in WW : A Conclusion6: Cold War 1945-1982 Attack Control of the Air Reconnaissance Strategic Air Mobility Comes of Age New Technology The Korean War Wars of National Liberation 1945-79 The Vietnam War â#x80 #x98 Rolling Thunderâ#x80 #x99 and the â#x80 #x98 Linebackersâ#x80 #x99 The Arabâ#x80 #x93 Israeli Wars 1947-82 The Indo-Pakistan Wars 1947-71 Air Power and the Maritime Domain Conclusion 7: The Apotheosis of Air Power 1983-2001 Warden and Neoclassical Air-Power Theory The Rise of Precision Stealth, Reconnaissance, and Intelligence The Gulf Wars in the Air 1980-91 The First Gulf War. Coercion in Humanitarian War: The Balkan Wars 1991-9Conclusion 8: Aerostats to Algorithms 2001-2018 9/11, Afghanistan, and Iraq Contingency Operations 2003-18 The Drones Come of Age A Return to High-End Conflict? Cyber and the Information Domain 9: Per Ardua ad Astra? REFERENCES 1. Foundations 2. Beginnings: The First World War 1914-1918 3. Theory and Practice: The Interwar Years 1919-1939 4. The Second World War: Air Operations in the West 5. The Second World War: The Air War in the Pacific 6. Cold War 1945-1982 7. The Apotheosis of Air Power 1983-2001. 8. Aerostats to Algorithms 2001-20189. Per Ardua ad Astra? FURTHER READING INDEX.