History of US Naval Air Power

by Robert L. Lawson

"This book is dedicated to that special breed of Naval Aviator, the carrier pilots and aircrew who have taken, The Last Cut". A special dedication is given to all the POW's, MIAs, and KIAs of Vietnam.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517414813
• ISBN13: 9780517414811
• Release Date: May 1987
• Publisher: Crescent
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 3.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

An Excellent, Excellent History of NavAir!

THE HISTORY OF US NAVAL AIR POWER is THE very best, single-volume popular history of American naval air power I have ever come across! Edited by author/photographer Bob Lawson, the book features contributions from Barrett Tillman, Bill Scarborough, Ray Wagner and David Erickson. In terms of notable aviation authors, you're talking "dream team" here, folks. And then the book is wonderfully illustrated with hundreds of b & w and color photographs, profiles, maps and diagrams. The resulting package is a super book, a great read and belongs on the shelf of every military aviation buff. THE HISTORY OF US NAVAL AIR POWER tops off at 256 pages divided into six chapters. Wagner's 'Birth of a Fledgling' recount's NavAir's early years. The Navy's WW II exploits are covered in two chapters by Tillman: 'Naval Aviation in the Atlantic' and 'Go West, Young Man; The War in the Pacific.' Lawson contributes 'Postwar to Vietnam; Time of Turbulence, Time of Progress' which dovetails into Erickson's 'Vietnam - All for Naught' chapter. Scarborough then takes the NavAir story to 1985 with 'Contemporary Situations and Plans.' The writing throughout is exemplary, both insightful and entertaining. The book also shines in the accompanying illustrations. Lawson tapped many official and unofficial sources to come up with the marvelous collection of shots contained in the book. He was also able to utilize artwork from England's Pilot Press so the reader is treated to dozens of full-color, aircraft three-views and profiles from Keith Fretwell and others. In summary, THE HISTORY OF US NAVAL AIR POWER really set the bar when it was published in 1985. Its winning combination of authoritative text and superlative illustrations has seldom been equalled. Highly recommended...or in NavAir parlance: OK-3 wire!