The Army Air Forces In World War II Vol. I-VII (1948-1958) By W. F. Craven, J. L. Cate
In March 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget ordering each war agency to prepare "an accurate and objective account" of that agency's war experience.
Soon after, the Army Air Forces began hiring professional historians so that its history could "be recorded while it is hot and that personnel be selected and an agency set up for a clear historian's job without axe to grind or defense to prepare."
A Historical Division was established in Headquarters Army Air Forces under Air Intelligence in September 1942, and the modern Air Force historical program began. With the end of the war, Headquarters approved a plan for writing and publishing a seven-volume history. In December 1945, Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker, Deputy Commander of the Army Air Forces, asked the Chancellor of the University of Chicago to "assume the responsibility for the publication" of the history, stressing that it must "meet the highest academic standards."
Lieutenant Colonel Wesley Frank Craven of New York University and Major James Lea Cate of the University of Chicago, both of whom had been assigned to the historical program, were selected to be editors of the volumes. Between 1948 and 1958, seven were published. With publication of the last, the editors wrote that the Air Force had "fulfilled in letter and spirit" the promise of access to documents and complete freedom of historical interpretation.
Like all history, the Army Air Forces in World War II reflects the era when it was conceived, researched, and written. However, these books met the highest of contemporary professional standards of quality and comprehensiveness. They contain information and experience that are of great value to the Air Force today and to the public.
Together they are the only comprehensive discussion of Army Air Forces activity in the largest air war this nation has ever waged.
- Army Air Forces in World War II: Vol 1. Plans and Early Operations January 1939 to August 1942
- The Army Air Forces In World War II: Vol. 2. Europe: Torch to Pointblank, August 1942 to December 1943
- Army Air Forces in World War II: Vol. 3. Europe: ARGUMENT to V-E DAY - January 1944 to May 1945
- Army Air Forces in World War II, Vol. 4. The Pacific: Guadalcanal to Saipan, August 1942 to July 1944
- Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. 5. Pacific: Matterhorn to Nagasaki, June 1944-August 1945.
- Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. 6. Men and Planes
- Army Air Forces In World War II. Vol. 7. Services Around The World
- Hard Cover with Dust Jacket (Volume 3 does not have a dust jacket)
- In Fair to Good Condition- wear on the Dust Jackets. Internal pages are good.
