When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Army Air Forces had only 1,100 combat-ready planes. No one could have imagined then that within the next four years the AAF would become the mighty weapon commemorated in the paintings reproduced on the following pages, or that it would have to scope to engage in what its commander, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, described as a "global mission." Nevertheless, by 1944 the AAF had grown into 16 separate air forces stationed around the world, and its 1,100 planes had grown to nearly 80,000.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1840.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1840.

A quirky, brilliant debut book that explores the evolution of our relationship to nature and the ways in which we attach meaning to it today. "Flight Maps" should find its place on any bookshelf with the likes of David Quammen and John McPhee.

Exploring these early years of aviation, Joseph Corn describes the fascinating, and often bizarre, plans for the future of manned flight and brings back to life the famous and lesser-known aviators who became American heroes.