When the Air National Guard was formed in 1947 alongside the United States Air Force, it consisted of a motley assortment of World War II veterans and a dubious collection of "airworthy stock planes" that were mostly obsolete. Four years later, it was mobilised for the Korean War, which produced a handful of National Air Guard jet aces and sparked an influx of new equipment for the unit. The Air Guard had entered the "jet age," an era in which it truly belonged, and began competing in air races and aerobatic competitions, becoming known to the public as an elite unit with top pilots and state-of-the-art jet aircraft. This book is a detailed history of the first two decades of the Air National Guard, which evolved from a "flying club" for World War II veterans into a major operational force for the United States Air Force. It reveals the dramatic stories of the flying aces and record-breaking jet aviators, as well as the pioneers who built the Air Guard on a wing and a prayer, and those who shaped it into a premier fighting force.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Wiggins Jr., Kennard R.
Title
The Air National Guard. The Early Years 1946-1965
Details
English text, paperback, many bw- and colour photos. 159 pages.
State
new
Fonthill Media Millview, Toadsmoor GL5 2TB Road, Stroud, Vereinigtes Königreich
