Description

In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, the air forces of the United States faced unprecedented challenges. Demobilization had stripped the armed forces of millions of personnel, while the rapid transition from a wartime economy strained the aviation industry at the same time as the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) was re-established as the independent US Air Force (USAF). US Air Power 1945–1990 Volume 2: Bombers 1945–1949 Part 1: Policy, War Plans, Strategic Air Command and Manufacturers examines this pivotal period, analysing the first steps the USAF took to re-establish its dominance in the skies during the early Cold War era.

This first part of Volume 2 provides a detailed examination of the development of the US bomber force in the years immediately following the Second World War. A new era of weapon and aircraft technologies demanded new aircraft capable of delivering atomic weapons deep into the heart of the USSR. This work examines the evolving concept of war as the USAAF evolved into the USAF and Strategic Air Command was established.

In addition, Volume 2 Part 1 looks at the role played by the major manufacturers of bomber aircraft as they transitioned from producing huge numbers of war-time bombers to smaller numbers of post-war designs incorporating new technologies for still-evolving concepts for atomic warfare.

This volume is richly illustrated throughout with original photographs from the period, along with specially commissioned colour artworks.