Master of Airpower
General Carl A. Spatz
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
“A valuable and long-overdue biography of one of America’s greatest soldiers.”—Parameters
The story of Gen. Carl “Tooey” Spaatz’s life is more than a biography of one of America’s great military leaders. It is a history of the development of airpower, and a fascinating, inside look at the long, difficult struggle to win autonomy for the U.S. Air Force. Spaatz earned his wings in 1918, when flying was a new and dangerous occupation; aviation school mortality rates were 18 percent. After gaining experience as a fighter pilot during the “Great War,” he became one of the Air Corps’ top pursuit commanders during the 1920s. During the 1930s, he moved over to bombers just as modern, long range aircraft were coming into service. As a senior bomber commander, Spaatz significantly influenced the emerging strategic bomber doctrine. By the time of the outbreak of the Second World War, Spaatz was one of America’s most experienced aviators.
He was at the helm of the evolution of the new American military “strategic airpower” doctrine, which proved to be a decisive factor in World War II. After the Allied victory, planning and launching an independent Air Force would occupy Spaatz for the remainder of his career.
Today’s Air Force bears his indelible stamp. “Tooey” Spaatz was a low-profile leader who was known for his open mind and pragmatic approach, and who was influential in a quiet, forceful way. Possessed of absolute integrity, even when his beliefs were unpopular, he pressed them at the risk of his career.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
During World War II, ``Tooey'' Spaatz directed tactical air operations in the North African and Sicilian campaigns, took over U.S. strategic air forces in Europe until the German surrender, then directed the final strategic bombing of Japan. In 1947, he became the first chief of staff of the newly independent Air Force. A quiet, unpretentious man, Spaatz was not a colorful figure but he was a first-class military leader and organizer. Mets pays particular attention to Spaatz's career between the world wars, when he acquired staff and command experience that prepared him for the task of developing air-war policy during World War II, while building the organizations that implemented it. A natural diplomat, Spaatz resisted attempts by the Royal Air Force to gain control of U.S. strategic air forces and later walked a fine line between the two powerful U.S. army and navy commanders in the Pacific, General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz. Photos.
