Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Air Force - by Charles Bright (Hardcover)

About the Book

This historical dictionary is the first of its kind on the U.S. Air Force and antecedent organizations. The reference is based on lengthy research by Charles Bright and 57 military historians, air force officers, and aviation specialists. Over 1,050 entries survey the major commands, air forces, staff services, bases, significant battles, events, campaigns, concepts, people, equipment, legislation, and other characteristics. This landmark reference has been developed as a tool for those who know the USAF and want to investigate different subjects further and for those with only slight knowledge who need a general base for exploring air force matters more fully. The dictionary is intended for libraries, for museums and special military collections, and for all bookstores interested in the history of flight.

The volume provides a preface with guidelines for using the dictionary, a short history of the U.S. Air Force and its antecedents from 1907 to 1992. Entries are arranged alphabetically with bibliographical citations. They cover all the significant subjects of USAF history from a handful of men with flimsy balloons and flying machines to the earth-shaking aerospace giant. Cross references throughout the book help the reader have easy access to all the entries that are related or that appear under a different entry title. A full index is provided also.

Book Synopsis

This historical dictionary is the first of its kind on the U.S. Air Force and antecedent organizations. The reference is based on lengthy research by Charles Bright and 57 military historians, air force officers, and aviation specialists. Over 1,050 entries survey the major commands, air forces, staff services, bases, significant battles, events, campaigns, concepts, people, equipment, legislation, and other characteristics. This landmark reference has been developed as a tool for those who know the USAF and want to investigate different subjects further and for those with only slight knowledge who need a general base for exploring air force matters more fully. The dictionary is intended for libraries, for museums and special military collections, and for all bookstores interested in the history of flight.

The volume provides a preface with guidelines for using the dictionary, a short history of the U.S. Air Force and its antecedents from 1907 to 1992. Entries are arranged alphabetically with bibliographical citations. They cover all the significant subjects of USAF history from a handful of men with flimsy balloons and flying machines to the earth-shaking aerospace giant. Cross references throughout the book help the reader have easy access to all the entries that are related or that appear under a different entry title. A full index is provided also.

Review Quotes

?Drawing on the expertise of more than 50 contributors, former USAF officer Bright has provided the most complete single-volume historical dictionary of the USAF and its predecessor organizations now in print. More than 1,000 alphabetically arranged entries cover all kinds of subjects from aircraft to battles, from leaders/heroes to movies, famous units, concepts, and even songs. The major entries are signed and almost all have concluding "reference sections" of additional recommended readings. Within entries, key terms having their own references within the work are each given an asterisk, and cross-references abound. The work is current enough to include some information on the aerial aspects of Desert Storm.?-Choice

?Military historian Bright and a staff of 57 advisors have written the most complete one-volume historical encyclopedia of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in print. Time span: 1907-92. Subject matter: anything and everything pertaining in any way to the USAF including battles, campaigns, concepts, bases, personalities, organizations, equipment, famous units, folklore, Hollywood movies, TV, novels, slang, songs, and military periodicals. The authors have succeeded admirably in simplifying the confusing abbreviations and acronyms for which the military establishment is known. The text contains more than 1000 alphabetically arranged entries, ranging from a few lines to several pages. Major entries are signed, and most end with a "Reference" section listing books and periodicals in which more information can be found. There are hundreds of "see" and "see also" notations that quickly lead to the desired topic. Checking "flying tigers," for example, takes the reader to a 20-line, signed entry: "American Volunteer Group." In the article, all key terms having their own entry are given an asterisk. Further information about the flying tigers can be found in entries on Franklin Delano Roosevelt, General Chennault, and the P-40 fighter. References at the end lead to many citations, including one forthcoming and one in Japanese. No aircraft (no matter how obscure), no famous ace, no battle this reviewer chose was missing from the text. The volume is new enough to include all of the information currently available about the Desert Storm offensive, but not current enough to include information on the winning fighter chosen in the Advanced Tactical Fighter competition. This work stands as the finestone-volume encyclopedia (calling it a dictionary does it injustice) about the United States Air Force. Recommended for all collections, including high schools where it can serve as a valuable vocational tool.?-Library Journal

"Drawing on the expertise of more than 50 contributors, former USAF officer Bright has provided the most complete single-volume historical dictionary of the USAF and its predecessor organizations now in print. More than 1,000 alphabetically arranged entries cover all kinds of subjects from aircraft to battles, from leaders/heroes to movies, famous units, concepts, and even songs. The major entries are signed and almost all have concluding "reference sections" of additional recommended readings. Within entries, key terms having their own references within the work are each given an asterisk, and cross-references abound. The work is current enough to include some information on the aerial aspects of Desert Storm."-Choice

"Military historian Bright and a staff of 57 advisors have written the most complete one-volume historical encyclopedia of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in print. Time span: 1907-92. Subject matter: anything and everything pertaining in any way to the USAF including battles, campaigns, concepts, bases, personalities, organizations, equipment, famous units, folklore, Hollywood movies, TV, novels, slang, songs, and military periodicals. The authors have succeeded admirably in simplifying the confusing abbreviations and acronyms for which the military establishment is known. The text contains more than 1000 alphabetically arranged entries, ranging from a few lines to several pages. Major entries are signed, and most end with a "Reference" section listing books and periodicals in which more information can be found. There are hundreds of "see" and "see also" notations that quickly lead to the desired topic. Checking "flying tigers," for example, takes the reader to a 20-line, signed entry: "American Volunteer Group." In the article, all key terms having their own entry are given an asterisk. Further information about the flying tigers can be found in entries on Franklin Delano Roosevelt, General Chennault, and the P-40 fighter. References at the end lead to many citations, including one forthcoming and one in Japanese. No aircraft (no matter how obscure), no famous ace, no battle this reviewer chose was missing from the text. The volume is new enough to include all of the information currently available about the Desert Storm offensive, but not current enough to include information on the winning fighter chosen in the Advanced Tactical Fighter competition. This work stands as the finestone-volume encyclopedia (calling it a dictionary does it injustice) about the United States Air Force. Recommended for all collections, including high schools where it can serve as a valuable vocational tool."-Library Journal

About the Author

CHARLES D. BRIGHT is a military historian and retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Air Force. He is the author of The Jetmakers: The Aerospace Industry from 1945 to 1972 (1978) and various works on the U.S. Air Force.