With Courage

In the last decade of the twentieth century, the United States Air Force commemorates two significant benchmarks in its heritage. The first is the occasion for the publication of this book, a tribute to the men and women who served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. The four years between 1991 and 1995 mark the fiftieth anniversary cycle of events in which the nation raised and trained an air armada and committed it to operations on a scale unknown to that time. "With Courage: U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II" retells the story of sacrifice, valor, and achievements in air campaigns against tough, determined adversaries. It describes the development of a uniquely American doctrine for the application of air power against an opponent's key industries and centers of national life, a doctrine whose legacy today is the Global Reach - Global Power strategic planning framework of the modern U.S. Air Force. The narrative integrates aspects of strategic intelligence, logistics, technology, and leadership to offer a full yet concise account of the contributions of American air power to victory in that war. A second commemoration in September 1997 marks the fiftieth birthday of the United States Air Force as a separate military institution. From its origins in 1907 until it achieved independence on September 18, 1947, the Air Force was, under several different names, a subordinate branch of the United States Army. The combat achievements and the incomparable growth of air power capabilities and thought in World War II made the Air Force's separation from the Army both desirable and inevitable afterward. In the early years of the Cold War that followed, the Air Force was the principal arm of American strategic deterrent policy. It has continued to develop as the most flexible military instrument of American policy. After World War II, the Air Force deployed units in three major conflicts and in a succession of crises. It revealed an increasing reach in humanitarian missions as well. In 1991, the U.S. Air Force fielded an overwhelming presence in the Persian Gulf to defeat the forces of a predatory local regime. For the first time in history, global and precise air power was the decisive element in bringing a hostile government and its ground forces to terms. As the Cold War recedes into history, it leaves in its wake ancient and new ethnic grievances, resurgent nationalism, and contending militant religious beliefs to complicate international relations. .In this charged and unpredictable atmosphere, the Air Force has a demonstrated ability to reach points of tension around the world within hours, delivering decisive, precise force against any opponent. It is an unparalleled strategic instrument for a period of particularly volatile international relationships.