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The Valkyrie was projected to become the centerpiece of the most advanced fleet of manned bombers ever assembled and boasted a sleek, sculpted beauty, while it was still massively powerful. It was the largest aircraft ever to attain the speed of Mach 3 and though the project lasted only a few years the airplane itself was the stuff of legend.

Donald Wills Douglas' intelligence, integrity and management skill made him a leader in aeronautics for nearly forty years. His success was based on the precept that aviation could progress more through evolution than revolution. The history of Douglas Aircraft Co. is traced from the days of its triumph in the 1920s to 1967 when bankruptcy forced its sale to James S. McDonnell.

Two independent inventors, British Frank Whittle and German Hans Pabst von Ohain who approached the jet engine problem in different ways, realized a functioning jet engine at about the same time. Whittle totally immersed himself in the hands-on work, subcontracting out only those elements that were too complex for him to build while von Ohain hired a skilled mechanic to create the original model engine and then worked within the framework of a large aircraft company to bring the engine to function.

Col. Francis S. 'Gabby' Gabreski faced a lot of obstacles to reach to the peak of the fighter pilot profession and with 28 aerial victories he became the top-scoring American ace in Europe in World War II. The details of Gabreski's life that are drawn from his 1991 autobiography, 'Gabby: A Fighter Pilot's Life', are illustrated.

The legendary Jack Northrop created a series of outstanding aircraft that ranged from a tiny wooden biplane to gigantic flying wings and he was personally at the leading edge of three distinct revolutions in aviation technology. The achievements of Jack Northrop and his company, the Northrop Corp., are discussed.

Aeronautical engineer Clarence Leonard 'Kelly' Johnson played a leading role in more than 42 Lockheed designs of operational aircrafts and provided United States with technologically advanced aeronautical systems. He was famous for his achievements, trouble shooting in the critical conditions, motivating his workforce to achieve the unattainable goals.

General W.L. 'Bill' Creech was among the most influential generals in Air Force history, rising from the rank of private to that of four-star general in a brilliant 36-year career. Many of his policies and leadership principles continue to guide the modern Air Force.

The first direct use of Soviet military power outside of Eastern Europe, since World War II is described. The mujahedeens used a Stinger heat-seeking missile to bring down helicopters and low-flying airplanes that had become central in the Soviet battle plans.

The work of three Germans in the late 1920s had a lasting influence on air and space flight. Fritz von Opel, Max Valier and Friedrich Sander did many experiments with aircraft and rockets power, which later cast a long shadow on aviation.

Theodore von Karman was a theorist and astronautical scientist, whose foundation work has taken the Air Force to great heights. The work and life of this great scientist is discussed.

The Air Service School opened in 1920 to train officers in air support of ground troops, primarily with bombing.

Retired Brig.Gen. David L. 'Tex' Hill was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in December 2001, for a heroic action he had carried out during World War II in the Pacific. The life and career of this brave warrior and brilliant unit commander are discussed.

The B-52 Stratofortress will be 50 years old on April 15, 2002. The YB-52, serial No. 49-0231, has served well, long, and in many roles. It is still in action over Afghanistan in 2001.

The US and its Western allies staged surveillance flights over the Soviet Union and its satellite territories as early as 1946 to gain information on military targets. A history of these early Cold War flights is presented.

Project Mule Train was an air cargo operation that ended in Dec 1962, just one year after it began. However, its innovative procedures strongly influenced subsequent Vietnam Conflict air cargo operations.

During the Vietnam war, the United States Air Force experienced higher losses than in the past, calling into question the effectiveness of pilot training. Red Flag was devised as a means of simulating the enemy force Air Force pilots would encounter in battle.

Air Force General Bernard Schriever was put in charge of the US missile program in the 1950s, and proceeded to build the world's most dominant ICBM force. The highly successful program was also helpful in America's space aspirations.

The US built 18,000 Liberators more than any American warplane in history and served with distinction in every theater of war, operating not only as bomber but also as a reconnaissance aircraft before and during World War II. While effective in Europe, the B-24 made its mark in the Pacific and remained the preferred bomber until the arrival of B-29.

The article discusses changes in the dissimilar air combat tactics (DACT) program of the U.S. Air Force started after the Vietnam War. Topics covered include the decreasing need for DACT during the Korean War in 1950 as U.S. F-86 battled with Russian MiG-15s and opening of DACT to private entrepreneurs due to sophisticated competitor aircraft and higher costs of flying tactical aircraft. Also mentioned are the Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. (ATAC) fleet and Drakken Internaitonal fleet.

The article features General William Wallace Momyer, considered as one of the hardest-working four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Air Force. Also known as Spike, Momyer is known four being quick-thinking and questions the views of his superiors. He authored a book titled "Airpower in Three Wars."

The article reports on the creation of a checklist on how aircraft all over the world are tested and flown. The checklist stemmed from the crash of Model 299 aircraft developed by Boeing on October 30, 1935. The checklist was developed by the U.S. Air Corps, making it the norm for aircraft operations.

The article offers a recollection of an air disaster that happened at Tachikawa Air Base in Japan, involving a Douglas C-124 Globemaster II transport aircraft of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), on June 18, 1953. The transport, which was bound to Korea, experienced an engine failure prior to its crash which killed all of its 129 passengers and crew members. Transport capabilities and services of the C-124 are discussed. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III was later developed to continue the lineage.

The article discusses a crash reports of strategic bomber Boeing B-47 in two peak years, 1957 and 1958, when 49 B-47s crashed incurring 122. It states that the selection of the ultra thin wing created structural and aerodynamic problems as it had to be built with great strength to withstand huge deflections. It also states that the B-47’s performance and thorough crews provided the U.S. with a strategic advantage, but the experience was a serious one.