Master of Airpower

A valuable and long-overdue biography of one of Americas greatest soldiers.Parameters The story of Gen. Carl Tooey Spaatzs life is more than a biography of one of Americas 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 Americas 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. Todays 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.