A History of Army Aviation: From Its Beginnings to the War on Terror (Paperback)

~ Dr. James Williams (Author)
Key Phrases: aviation branch, aviation school, aviation officer, Air Force, World War, Fort Rucker (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

…spellbinding history…, the how, what, when, where and why…some never told and certainly not always understood. This is a story that has begged to be told, …with sources and substance heretofore missing… Historians, military scholars, and aviators, …will rely on this work for years.
Carl H. McNair, Jr., Major General, U.S. Army (Retired)

“This is worth a good read…a welcome and long overdue history of Army Aviation.”
Joseph L. Galloway, senior military correspondent, Knight Ridder Newspapers and co-author, We Were Soldiers Once…and Young

Soldiers, scholars, and aviation enthusiasts alike can learn much from this comprehensive examination…. …successfully blends lively and insightful historical narrative with astute analysis. …unfailingly honest assessment of…contributions to our national defense.
Carol Reardon, Pennsylvania State University, author of LAUNCH THE INTRUDERS

…tightly written and focused…traces the aviation branch from its inception through two world wars, the loss of a major portion to the new Air Force, …up through its current role…. …required reading for anyone who desires to understand…Army aviation.
Darrel Whitcomb, author of The Rescue of Bat 21, and Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm

…tells the whole story concisely by addressing seven key themes. …crisp prose and well-chosen illustrations…. This old ground-pounder owes his life to…brave crews of Army birds.
Henry Gole, Ph.D./Colonel (ret.), author of Soldiering

About the Author

James W. (Jim) Williams was historian at the U.S. Army Aviation Center, 1997–2005. He previously was historian for the Army Chemical Corps and Armor Branch. For seven years he headed oral history programs and taught at the Army War College. His military service included leading Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams during Vietnam, commanding sealift operations during the first Gulf War, and serving as historian for the NATO headquarters in Bosnia. Other assignments included research and development for weapon systems and teaching at the Naval Academy. Indiana University awarded his Ph.D. in history in 1981.

Product Details

• Paperback: 450 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (September 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595366082
• ISBN-13: 978-0595366088
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #556,147 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Aviation Resource, December 12, 2005

By	Alabama Librarian "Book Worm" (Enterprise, AL) - See all my reviews

The definitive history of Army Aviation from the beginning to present operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. If you like aviation history this is a wonderful resource. Should be in every library collection. A great gift for anyone interested in aviation.

3.0 out of 5 stars Lots of detail, lacks a story, February 28, 2009

By	C. Silva (California, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book covers a lot of ground, but suffers a bit from the sheer amount of detail. The organizational changes in Army Aviation are highlighted, and it is useful to know what organizational structures have been implemented at various times, but the cohesiveness of the story is often sidetracked. It is always a struggle to produce an exhaustive history while explaining how these details relate to the bigger picture, so I sympathize with the author.

Unfortunately, it felt as though a large portion of the book was spent slogging through minutiae, and chronological progression was interspersed with thematic progression. I would give the content 4 stars, principally because the applications of aviation in particular engagements was given limited treatment, as were the advances in technology.

I think that the best insight that I found in the book was the discussion of the particular difficulties encountered by the Army in providing for equivalent career development for soldiers in Aviation. In this regard, the author recounted the events as a continuing theme, and developed it into a cohesive story.

I don't think that I could reconcile the desire to document all of the events covered in this book with a cohesive and engaging story without adding at least 50% to its length, so maybe that is the constraint that prevailed.

The readability of the book makes it overall 3 stars in my opinion. As a reference, this book could be useful, but the astounding detail of the book makes the whole volume a giant index, and finding particular discussions requires knowing a priori where to look chronologically and thematically.

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read, April 22, 2008

By	G. Boras - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a must read for ALL Army aviators. All you Warrant Officers will be surprised to find out that the Commissioned Officers did most of the flying in Vietnam.