Beneficial Bombing: The Progressive Foundations of American Air Power, 1917-1945

Acknowledgments

a C k n o w l e d g m e n t s While writing a work based to a substantial degree on historical records may appear to be an individual project, it is not—it requires a tremendous amount of assistance from many other people. Moreover, such an endeavor also requires a substantial amount of time. Accordingly, I must first thank Major General Robert Steel, usaf, and the staff of the National War College for providing me with a sabbatical year that allowed me the necessary time to complete a project that has long occupied my attention. Archival collections provided many of my sources, and I must make special mention of some of the archivists who gave me invaluable assistance. At the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Ms. Lynn O. Gamma, Dr. James H. Kitchens, and Mr. Joseph D. Caver all were tremendously helpful. Joe in particular was wonderful, tracking down answers to questions that I had, and finding many of the photographs used in this book. At the Air Force Office of History at Bolling Air Force Base dc, Dr. Roger Miller and Ms. Mary Lee Jefferson also provided many excellent photographs, several of which I had never before seen. Mr. Jeff Flannery and Ms. Jennifer Brathovde at the U.S. National Archives offered essential guidance as I plowed through manuscript collections. In the Special Collections branch of the U.S. Air Force Academy Library, I received considerable help from the masterful archivist (now retired), Mr. Duane Reed, as well as from Dr. Edward A. Scott, the Director of Academy Libraries. The superb staff at the National Defense University Library, including Ms. Carolyn Turner, Ms. Rosemary Marlowe-Dzuik, and Ms. Kimberley Jordan, graciously and expeditiously responded to my many requests. x ac k n ow l ed gmen t s I must also thank the “it gurus” of National War College, Mr. Anthony Muschelli and Mr. Peter Pettigrew, who kept me “logged in” to the National Defense University network throughout my sabbatical. I could not have written this book without their tireless efforts. National War College’s Dr. Chris Bassford, who also has a considerable amount of it expertise (besides being our Clausewitz guru!), graciously gave much of his time to refine many of the photographs that I selected. For suggestions, advice, and consultation, I am grateful to many people as well. Ms. Heather Lundine and Ms. Bridget Barry at University of Nebraska Press provided me with a multitude of useful tidbits that I would never have considered and made this book much better than it otherwise would have been; I also appreciate the sage advice of Ms. Sarah Steinke, the copy editor. Dr. David Mets, a dear friend and outstanding historian who taught with me at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, provided a critique of the first two chapters that I took to heart. Professor Emeritus Gerhard Weinberg—the historian of the Second World War—also provided me with an invaluable critique of my chapter drafts. Students from the National War College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces in my “Air Power and Modern War” class during the past decade never failed to challenge my thinking, as did Air Force Colonel Peter Faber—a wonderful air power historian —who twice taught the class with me. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Rondall Rice, author of the excellent book The Politics of Air Power: From Confrontation to Cooperation in Army Aviation Civil-Military Relations, read the manuscript and provided me with sound recommendations. Rondall, a fellow North Carolinian, was one of my advisees when I taught at the Air Force Academy, and his assistance is a classic case of the student instructing the teacher. My next-door neighbor, Dr. (and physicist) Leslie Cohen, gave me many useful insights in frequent discussions. Former students at the University of North Carolina—and current xi ac k n ow l ed gmen t s Air Force officers—Chris Holland, Sheila (Johnson) Baldwin, Jessica Rice, Bob Champion, and Wendy (Williams) Walker provided continued encouragement and advice. Air Force Colonel “BA” Andrews, who has taught at both National War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, provided invaluable suggestions , both in terms of research and structure. Professor Peter Maslowski, who has served as my mentor since 1982 when I became one of his graduate students at the University of...