In this excellent work of narrative and analysis, Herman Wolk of the Office of Air Force History untangles the complex history that led to the birth of the United States Air Force after World War II. After surveying the struggle for independence to 1941, and planning during World War II for a postwar air force, Mr. Wolk details the evens that resulted in the formation of a separate Air Force in September 1947. Significantly, the new Air Force at its birth already possessed a long history and a rich heritage; some forty years as part of the Army, service in two world wars, and a fully developed understanding of its usefulness in war. The new Air Force already possessed leaders who knew that how the service was constructed and how it was led and administered would affect how air power could be used, and whether it could contribute fully to the nation's security.

For nearly fifty years, citizen airmen have served in the nation's defense as members of the Air Force Reserve. Citizen Airmen: A History of the Air Force Reserve, 194 & 1994 begins with the fledgling air reserve program initiated in 1916, traces its progress through World War II, and then concentrates on the period 1946 through 1994. The study skillfully describes the process by which a loosely organized program evolved into today's impressive force. The Air Force Reserve story is told within the context of national political and military policy and stresses that over the decades, as national needs have increased, reservists have met the challenges. Initially, the Air Force treated its reserve units as supplemental forces and equipped them with surplus equipment. Shortly after the Air Force Reserve was established in 1948, its members mobilized for Korean War duty and they served throughout the conflict. The Reserve program subsequently fell into disarray and required patient rebuilding. The passage of a series of key federal laws related to personnel issues and the introduction of the air reserve technician program greatly assisted in this rejuvenation process. In the l96Os, the Air Force Reserve demonstrated its mettle as it participated in numerous mobilizations reflecting the Cold War tensions of the era. Reservists were involved in operations ranging from the Berlin Crisis of 1961-1962 to the Southeast Asia mobilizations in 1968. In the 197Os, the Air Force Reserve program assumed heightened importance when the Department of Defense adopted the Total Force Policy. This concept treated the active forces, the National Guard, and all reserve forces as an integrated force. Reservists were now expected to meet the same readiness standards as their active duty counterparts. Since then, the Air Force Reserve has demonstrated its ability to perform a wide variety of missions. Air Reservists participated in American military operations in Grenada and Panama.

The essays, commentaries, and speeches which form this volume were presented at the Eleventh Military History Symposium, held at the United States Air Force Academy on 10-12 October 1984. This conference is a biennial event sponsored jointly by the Department of History and the Association of Graduates of the United States Air Force Academy. Begun in 1967, the series seeks to address problems in military history which have received limited attention and to provide a forum in which scholars may present the results of their research. In this manner we hope to stimulate and encourage interest in military history among civilian and military scholars, members of the armed forces, and the cadets of the United States Air Force Academy.

The essays, commentaries, and speeches which form this volume were presented at the Eleventh Military History Symposium, held at the United States Air Force Academy on l0-l2 October 1984. This conference is a biennial event sponsored jointly by the Department of History and the Association of Graduates of the United States Air Force Academy. Begun in 1967, the series seeks to address problems in military history which have received limited attention and to provide a forum in which scholars may present the results of their research. In this manner we hope to stimulate and encourage interest in military history among civilian and military scholars, members of the armed forces, and the cadets of the United States Air Force Academy.

One of the longest and most bitter disputes in twentieth century military affairs has been over the organization of the armed forces, particularly the question of independence of the air forces. The argument over an independent Air Force cut to the very heart of national defense, for who controlled air policy, air doctrine, buying of aircraft, military training, and the structure of the air forces determined the type of military forces the nation would possess and how aviation would be used in war.