American Eagles

Featuring the collection of airplanes, art, photographs, and memorabilia of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, this magnificently illustrated book tells the story of the beginnings of flight, through the creation of the U.S. Air Force as a separate branch of the military, to the unbelievable technological achievements of what is the preeminent air power in the world today. Here are combat aces, Medal of Honor recipients, crusty generals, and average citizens who served in the Air Force. There are philosophers, airplane designers, test pilots, rocket scientists, armorers, and grease monkeys. More than 250 color and 150 black-and-white illustrations and photos and insightful text present the story of the U.S. Air Force of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, published on the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United States Air Force and the one hundredth anniversary of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

Dan Patterson was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, and received his BA of Fine Arts from Wright State University. For more than forty years, he has been a self-employed artist, photographer, graphic designer, published author, and private pilot. Aviation history in all its forms is the primary focus of his expertise, and led to concept, design photography, and production of more than forty books between 1989 and 2016, including American Eagles, first published in 1997 as the official 50th anniversary history of the U.S. Air Force.

Ron Dick served for thirty-eight years in the Royal Air Force and was later British Defence Attache in Washington, DC. He died in 2008.

Clinton Terry is associate professor of history at Mercer University. His most recent book, with Dan Patterson, is Surveying in Early America.

Foreword by Colonel Eileen Collins
Foreword by General Robin Olds
Introduction
Preface
Chapter 1: Triumph
Chapter 2: The Crucible of War, 1917-1918
Chapter 3: The 1920s: Debates and Derring Do
Chapter 4: The 1930s: Changes and Constraints
Chapter 5: Air Power Unleashed: World War II

• Part I: The Engines That Won the War
• Part II: The Airplanes That Trained an Air Force
• Part III: The Blow Falls in the Pacific
• Part IV: The European Air War
• Part V: U.S. Army Air Power Against Japan, 1942-1945

Chapter 6: Liberation & Restraint
Chapter 7: Strategic Air Command & the Centuries
Chapter 8: Cold War Hot Combat
Chapter 9: The Professionals
Chapter 10: At the Leading Edge
Chapter 11: Wild Black Yonder
Chapter 12: Air Power
Chapter 13: United States Air Force Since 1997
Chapter 14: National Museum of the United States Air Force

• Part I: Collections
• Part II: Restoration
• Part III: Air Force Museum Foundation

Epilogue
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements