October 2009

Vol. 92, No. 10

 
Highlights from the October 2009 Issue

AFA National Report

Back-to-Back in Alabama Air Force Association Chairman of the Board Joseph E. Sutter was keynote speaker for both the Montgomery Chapter (Ala.) Community Partner Appreciation Luncheon and the Alabama State Convention, hosted by the chapter in August. The events took...

New Nukes, Old Nukes

B61 life extension: caught up in a debate. (USAF photo) When it comes to the political debate in Washington, nuclear weapon programs now fall into two broad categories—those that would “modernize” existing capabilities, and those that would create new ones....

Air Force World

B-52 Squadron Activated The Air Force on Sept. 3 activated the 69th Bomb Squadron at Minot AFB, N.D., its newest operational B-52H unit that will be part of Minot’s 5th Bomb Wing that already has the 23rd BS. Initially, the...

Verbatim

No Long Slog “After the Iraq experience, nobody is prepared to have a long slog where it is not apparent we are making headway. The troops are tired; the American people are pretty tired.”—Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Los...

SBD Dauntless

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Airpower Was Decisive

The United States Strategic Bombing Survey: Summary Report (European War) United States War Department, Washington, D.C. Sept. 30, 1945 FULL TEXT VERSION The war with Hitler was in its final months when President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered up a survey....

Letters

Arrogance From the Secretary Kudos to Robert Dudney for his editorial in the August 2009 issue titled, “The No-Brainers of Robert S. McNamara,” [p. 2]. In the early days of Robert McNamara’s tenure as Defense Secretary, I was one of...

Books

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Complete Contents of October 2009 PDF
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Threats or Capabilities?
Without "prudent worrying," we run a greater risk of a nasty military surprise.
By Robert S. Dudney

Spooling Up in Afghanistan
The expeditionary air war is drawing in more airmen and aircraft for the long haul
By Adam J. Hebert

Airpower for Hybrid War
This new type of warfare aligns closely with US Air Force strengths.
By Michael W. Isherwood

The Sixth Generation Fighter
The technologies are emerging, but what's needed is a program to pull them together.
By John A. Tirpak

Enduring Airlift
Afghanistan is a logistician's nightmare, and air mobility is the solution.
By Marc V. Schanz

Insecurity in Space
Space once was ours. Then came the space junk, collisions, and dangerous interlopers.
By Rebecca Grant

Power Players at Kadena
The air base on Okinawa is a centerpiece of USAF power projection.
By Jim Haseltine

The Day of the Atlas
On an October day a half-century ago, the ICBM era was born.
By Stewart M. Powell

Combat Air Forces Take a Hit
USAF leaders call it "rebalancing," but others warn the cuts have gone too far.
By Tom Philpott

Over the Hump to China
Every bomb, bullet, and gallon of gas-to say nothing of Army mules and at least one piano-had to be flown over the Himalayas.
By John T. Correll

Departments


Letters

Washington Watch

Air Force World

Index to Advertisers

Senior Staff Changes

Issue Brief

Chart Page

Verbatim

Flashback

Books

Keeper File

AFA National Report

Unit Reunions

Airpower Classics