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Fighting from Above: A Combat History of the US Air Force
The story of the United States Air Force (USAF) stretches back to aerial operations prior to the First World War—well before the USAF became a separate service—and looks forward to a new era of airpower in space. Fighting from Above presents a concise account of this expansive history, offering a new perspective on how the air forces of the United States created an independent way of warfare over time.
From the earliest battles of the USAF’s predecessor organizations to its modern incarnation, Brian D. Laslie identifies four distinct and observable ways of war that developed over four distinct epochs. Beginning with the development of early air power (1906–1941), he highlights the creation of roles and missions, with bombardment theory and practice ascendant. An era of strategic dominance (1942–1975) followed in which the ideas of strategic bombardment ruled the air force; when such notions were unceremoniously proven false during the Vietnam-era conflicts, a period of tactical ascendancy (1975–2019) began. Finally, Laslie considers the current environment, where much of the story of the USAF remains unwritten as it grapples with the prospects and challenges posed by drones and the U.S. Space Force.
While detailing combat operations, Fighting from Above also pays close attention to technology, politics, rivalries, logistics, policy, organization, equipping, and training. Thorough, concise, and innovative in its approach, it is an authoritative, exceptionally readable history of the development of American airpower.
From the earliest battles of the USAF’s predecessor organizations to its modern incarnation, Brian D. Laslie identifies four distinct and observable ways of war that developed over four distinct epochs. Beginning with the development of early air power (1906–1941), he highlights the creation of roles and missions, with bombardment theory and practice ascendant. An era of strategic dominance (1942–1975) followed in which the ideas of strategic bombardment ruled the air force; when such notions were unceremoniously proven false during the Vietnam-era conflicts, a period of tactical ascendancy (1975–2019) began. Finally, Laslie considers the current environment, where much of the story of the USAF remains unwritten as it grapples with the prospects and challenges posed by drones and the U.S. Space Force.
While detailing combat operations, Fighting from Above also pays close attention to technology, politics, rivalries, logistics, policy, organization, equipping, and training. Thorough, concise, and innovative in its approach, it is an authoritative, exceptionally readable history of the development of American airpower.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2024
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About the author
Brian D. Laslie
7 books17 followersDr. Brian D. Laslie is Deputy Command Historian, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).
A historian of air power and space studies, Dr. Laslie received his Bachelor’s degree in history from The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina in 2001, his Master’s from Auburn University Montgomery in 2006 and his Doctorate in history from Kansas State University in 2013. His dissertation focused on the realistic training and technology revolution that took place in the USAF after Vietnam and the impact of training exercises on Desert Storm and Allied Force. His first book The Air Force Way of War: U.S. Tactics and Training after Vietnam (University Press of Kentucky) was published in June of 2015 and was selected for the 2016 Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s professional reading list and the Royal Air Force’s Chief of the Air Staff’s reading list in 2017. His second book, Architect of Air Power: General Laurence S. Kuter and the Birth the US Air Force was released in September 2017. His most recent publication was the chapter “Born of Insubordination: Culture, Professionalism, and Identity in the Air Arm,” in Redefining the Modern Military: The Intersection of Profession and Ethics in October 2018 with other members of The Strategy Bridge.
Dr. Laslie was Honorably Discharged from the United States Air Force in 2007 as a Captain. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife and two daughters.
A historian of air power and space studies, Dr. Laslie received his Bachelor’s degree in history from The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina in 2001, his Master’s from Auburn University Montgomery in 2006 and his Doctorate in history from Kansas State University in 2013. His dissertation focused on the realistic training and technology revolution that took place in the USAF after Vietnam and the impact of training exercises on Desert Storm and Allied Force. His first book The Air Force Way of War: U.S. Tactics and Training after Vietnam (University Press of Kentucky) was published in June of 2015 and was selected for the 2016 Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s professional reading list and the Royal Air Force’s Chief of the Air Staff’s reading list in 2017. His second book, Architect of Air Power: General Laurence S. Kuter and the Birth the US Air Force was released in September 2017. His most recent publication was the chapter “Born of Insubordination: Culture, Professionalism, and Identity in the Air Arm,” in Redefining the Modern Military: The Intersection of Profession and Ethics in October 2018 with other members of The Strategy Bridge.
Dr. Laslie was Honorably Discharged from the United States Air Force in 2007 as a Captain. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife and two daughters.
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