General Henry Harley “Hap” Arnold is widely considered the father of the United States Air Force. But his long list of accomplishments doesn’t begin or end there. He was also the first and only five-star general of the US Air Force; one of the first US military aviators; the first American to carry air mail; and the architect of the war-winning air strategy of World War II. In this new biography of one of the American military’s most towering figures, author Bill Yenne weaves the story of Hap Arnold’s life, from his youthful days as a cunning prankster to his sunset career as an elder statesman. All along, Yenne unfolds General Arnold’s life like the adventure story it is. A bold advocate for technological advancement, Hap Arnold was a powerful character in the golden age of aviation, an innovative warrior in the conflict that defined the modern era, and the creator of an entirely new branch of the US military. Hap Arnold: The General Who Invented the US Air Force is a page-turning adventure biography for history buffs, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the events that shaped America and the world in the first half of the twentieth century.

The B-29 long-range bombing campaign against the Japanese home islands dictated unprecedented organization and command; hence, Arnold established the Twentieth Air Force, commanded by himself from Washington and reporting directly to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This new type of bombing offensive-distinct in command, organization, range, and weapons from the European experience-also called for exemplary operational combat leadership in the field. Here Arnold excelled in his command of the AAF, relieving a long-time colleague (Hansell) in favor of a hard-nosed operator (LeMay). This crucial move was a turning point in the Pacific war. Although the Soviet declaration of war on Japan was a factor in the Japanese surrender, it was the atomic bomb that politically shocked the Japanese to capitulation. Arnold, the architect of the bombing offensive, emphasized that Japan was already defeated in the summer of 1945 by the bombing and blockade and that it was not militarily necessary to drop the atomic bomb.

Includes the Aerial Warfare In Europe During World War II illustrations pack with over 180 maps, plans, and photos. Gen Henry H. “Hap.” Arnold, US Army Air Forces (AAF) Chief of Staff during World War II, maintained diaries for his several journeys to various meetings and conferences throughout the conflict. Volume 1 introduces Hap Arnold, the setting for five of his journeys, the diaries he kept, and evaluations of those journeys and their consequences. General Arnold’s travels brought him into strategy meetings and personal conversations with virtually all leaders of Allied forces as well as many AAF troops around the world. He recorded his impressions, feelings, and expectations in his diaries. Maj Gen John W. Huston, USAF, retired, has captured the essence of Henry H. Hap Arnold—the man, the officer, the AAF chief, and his mission. Volume 2 encompasses General Arnold’s final seven journeys and the diaries he kept therein.

Recounts the career of Henry H. Arnold, the U.S. Air Force's first five-star general, from his work as one of the Wright Brothers' original test pilots to his leadership of the air force in World War II.

Global Mission is General “Hap” Arnold’s personal story of his life and military career and a history of American military aviation with particular emphasis on World War II. “For twenty years prior to World War II General Arnold was a tireless and effective evangelist for American air power. No other foresaw more clearly than he the revolutionary impact of the airplane upon the methods and conduct of war. Hap Arnold performed still another public duty in recording for us the results and the conclusions of his lifetime experiences. Whatever he has to say about air power deserves the close attention of all his fellow citizens.” — General Dwight D. Eisenhower, US Army “The compellingly interesting autobiography of a great soldier-statesman and one of the finest presentations I have ever seen of the history of American military aviation.” — Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle, US Air Force “[T]his book is more than the chronicle of a flier’s life; it is in a sense a saga of United States air power, and particularly a top-level picture of the United States Army Air Force in World War II... Global Mission will take an important place in the growing library of war books... a delightful book; it brings out so strongly the lovable personality of “Hap” Arnold. It is an important book... these reminiscences are a monument to him.” — Hanson W. Baldwin, The New York Times “[An] interesting and important book” — Robert Gale Woolbert, Foreign Affairs “There are many groups of people who will profit by a careful reading of Global Mission. As General Bradley well said in a recent letter to me, ‘It is “must” reading for the young military men of today who will have to be the Marshalls and Arnolds and Kings in any future emergency.’ The thinking people of the United States will make wiser decisions in the selection of their leaders, both military and civil, if they have read Global Mission. They will understand more clearly the frightful errors which have been made in the past and their cost in blood and treasure... Any who are tempted to be pacifists or isolationists in the future had better read Global Mission to learn the implications which can flow from false doctrines. The historian who has the difficult job of painting the true picture of the Second World War needs to read Global Mission for background. Here alone will he find some of the missing pieces in his puzzle... by any yardstick, [Global Mission] is worthy reading for any American.” — Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker, USAF (Ret.), Air University Quarterly Review “[General Arnold’s] book is a very important contribution to the history of the Second World War; one reads it with passionate interest from start to finish. It is written in a lively way and also with that frankness, that outspokenness, which always surprises French people from the pen of such a high authority. It is also extremely revealing about the American character.” — René Jouan, Revue d’histoire de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale “[This] book will be of enduring value.” — Ordnance

Erich Fromm (1900-80) was a famous psychoanalyst, social critic and author of bestsellers like Escape from Freedom and The Art of Loving. But he was also very interested in religion. Having been brought up as an orthodox Jew he abandoned institutionalized religion as a young man. But he was influenced for life by the Talmudic studies of his childhood. Later in life he met and was enriched by Buddhism and mysticism. In this book the author analyzes what Fromm thought about religion, how he expressed his ambiguous feelings about Judaism, and his radical interpretation of the Bible. This is a book about a fascinating man with views that challenge both believers and atheists.

A fighter pilot who flew 75 combat missions in World War I, George C. Kenney was a charismatic leader who established himself as an innovative advocate of air power. As General MacArthur's air commander in the Southwest Pacific during World War II, Kenney played a pivotal role in the conduct of the war, but until now his performance has remained largely unexplored. Thomas Griffith offers a critical assessment of Kenney's numerous contributions to MacArthur's war efforts. He depicts Kenney as a staunch proponent of airpower's ability to shape the outcome of military engagements and a commander who shared MacArthur's strategic vision. He tells how Kenney played a key role in campaigns from New Guinea to the Philippines; adapted aircraft, pilots, doctrine, and technology to the demands of aerial warfare in the southwest Pacific; and pursued daring strategies that likely would have failed in the European theater. Kenney is shown to have been an operational and organizational innovator who was willing to scrap doctrine when the situation called for ingenuity, such as shifting to low-level attacks for more effective bombing raids. Griffith tells how Kenney established air superiority in every engagement, provided close air support for troops by bombing enemy supply lines, attacked and destroyed Japanese supply ships, and carried out rapid deployment by airlifting troops and supplies. Griffith draws on Kenney's diary and correspondence, the personal papers of other officers, and previously untapped sources to present a comprehensive portrayal of both the officer and the man. He illuminates Kenney's relationship with MacArthur, General "Hap" Arnold, and other field commanders, and closely examines factors in air warfare often neglected in other accounts, such as intelligence, training, and logistical support. MacArthur's Airman is a rich and insightful study that shows how air, ground, and marine efforts were integrated to achieve major strategic objectives. It firmly establishes the importance of MacArthur's campaign in New Guinea and reveals Kenney's instrumental role in turning the tide against the Japanese.