Beyond The Wild Blue: A History Of The U.S. Air Force, 1947-2007

by Walter J. Boyne, Richard B. Myers (Contributor)

The second edition of Beyond the Wild Blue, an update of the popular history originally released in 1997, is a fascinating look at sixty turbulent years of Air Force history. From the prop-driven armada of World War II to the most advanced Stealth weaponry, from pioneers like General Henry "Hap" Arnold to glorious conquests in the Gulf War, Beyond the Wild Blue is a high-flying study of the triumphs (and failures) of leadership and technology.
In three new chapters, Walter Boyne covers an eventful ten years, including 9/11, the invasion of Afghanistan, and the second Gulf War, describing in detail the technological advancements that led to highly efficient airstrikes in Iraq.  He also takes stock of the Air Force's doctrine and mission statements as this unique sector of the military grapples with an ever-changing world.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Aviation, Military History, War, American History

576 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jonathon Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used as reference to write a book report.

[Albrecht Dürer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a History of the Air Force, it isn't even a History of flight in the Air Force. It is an incomplete look at scattered events ranging from technology, AF structure, brief descriptions of Vietnam, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan and a lot of politics. The author was a pilot so the concentration on flight can be understood, but when he relegates major events such as the Gary Powers U-2 incident to a couple sentences, there is a problem. Included in the book is over 100 pages of information that has nothing to do with the History of the Air Force. One appendix is a list of terrorists events from the last 50 plus years.

The main mission of the Air Force is flight, but planes don't fly without help on the ground, and flight crews aren't the only part of the Air Force that support the mission. Some good information, but mostly a waste of time based on the title.

[Dwight Koslowski · Rating 1 out of 5]

This reads more like a Doctoral Dissertation. It abounds with acronyms and buzzwords, but fails to give much time for USAF operations. It is rich in terms like "Total Quality Management", but does not even acknowledge things like the fastest aircraft ever built, that led the world in intelligence gathering from the mid-60s until its retirement in early 1990. If the reader wants to know more about the Air University, Doctrine, etc. you will love this book. If you expect to read of the nuts and bolts of the Air Force, forget it.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was too much history stuffed into too few pages; this needed to be a two-volume book.

[Jeremy Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it is well-written, reading this book is like watching C-SPAN. It is all politics and budgets and very, very boring.

[Dusty Juhl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book might be a good historical reference, but I found it nearly impossible to finish this book. I read it in its entirety, but it never held my interest. It was a real struggle to stay interested. I also found the writing style to be pretty poor.

[Beth/Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dry at times, but still good reading to see how the Air Force gained its covetted separte identity from the Army. Also tells how
Robert McNamara bungled their efforts in Vietnam.

[Robert]

It was a good book. A little dry in some areas.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry and frustratingly out of date, but informative.