This groundbreaking study offers a compelling and original interpretation of the rise of military aviation. Jeremy Black, one of the world's finest scholars of military history, provides a lucid analysis of the use of air power over land and sea during both the two world wars and the more limited wars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Black breaks new ground by exploring not only conventional war-both inside and outside Europe-but also the use of air power in unconventional wars, especially critical given the spread of insurgencies around the globe. He vividly describes traditional debates over the pros and cons of strategic bombing and aircraft carriers versus battleships and gives equal attention to managerial, doctrinal, and technological innovations. The author shows how air power became significantly more effective as World War II progressed and at the same time highlights its limits in the two Gulf Wars.

The author goes beyond our traditional understanding of air power associated with bombing and fighter engagements, adding the important elements associated with naval power, including ground/logistics support, antiaircraft measures, and political constraints. As he explains, air power has become Western politicians' weapon of choice, spreading maximum destruction with a minimum of commitment. His current and comprehensive study considers how we got to this point, and what the future has in store. Anyone seeking a balanced, accurate understanding of air power in history will find this book an essential introduction.