Makers of the United States Air Force

Washington, DC: United States Air Force, Office of Air Force History, 1987. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Trade paperback. good. Format is approximately 6.5 inches by 9.5 inches. xv, [1], 347, [1] pages. Wraps. Illustrations. Index. Inscribed on the title page by 'one of the Makers'. Inscription reads To Tommy Lovejoy with my continuing high admiration and love. Ben Davis. Some wear and soiling to cover edges. This is one of the USAF Warrior Studies. John Lee Frisbee was, an Air Force colonel who retired in 1969 after having served as chief of the research and analysis division in the office of the secretary of the Air Force. Colonel Frisbee also served as special assistant to the vice chief of staff in his last Air Force assignment before retiring. In retirement, he served 10 years as editor of Air Force Magazine in Washington. From 1983 until 1999, he wrote a monthly column, "Valor," on Air Force heroes of World War II, Korea and Vietnam for the magazine. He also edited "Makers of the United States Air Force," which was published by the Office of Air Force History. Colonel Frisbee began his military career during World War II and served during the war as a command pilot in Europe. After the war, he received a master's degree in international relations at Georgetown University. He also studied at the Armed Forces Staff College and the Canadian National Defense College. He taught at the U.S. Military Academy and was the first head of the history department and acting head of the political science department at the U.S. Air Force Academy. His military decorations included a Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and Army Commendation Medal. Contents include Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: Men with a Mission, John L. Frisbee; Benjamin D. Foulois: In the Beginning, John F. Shiner; Frank M. Andrews: Marshall's Airman, De Witt S. Copp; Harold L. George: Apostle of Air Power, Haywood S. Hansell, Jr.; Hugh J. Knerr: The Pen and the Sword, Murray Green; George C. Kenney: The Great Innovator, Herman S. Wolk; William E. Kepner: All the Way To Berlin, Paul F. Henry; Elwood R. Quesada: Tac Air Comes of Age, John Schlight; Hoyt S. Vandenberg: Building the New Air Force, Noel F. Parrish; Benjamin O. Davis. Jr.: History on Two Fronts, Alan Gropman; Nathan F. Twining: New Dimensions, a New Look, Donald J. Mrozek; Bernard A. Schriever: Challenging the Unknown, Jacob Neufeld; Robinson Risner: The Indispensable Ingredient, T. R. Milton. Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. (December 18, 1912 - July 4, 2002) was a United States Air Force (USAF) general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen. He was the first African-American brigadier general in the USAF. On December 9, 1998, he was advanced to four-star general by President Bill Clinton. During World War II, Davis was commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group, which escorted bombers on air combat missions over Europe. Davis flew sixty missions in P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang fighters and was one of the first African-American pilots to see combat. Davis followed in his father's footsteps in breaking racial barriers, as Benjamin O. Davis Sr. was the first black brigadier general in the United States Army. In July 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 ordering the racial integration of the armed forces. Colonel Davis helped draft the Air Force plan for implementing this order. The Air Force was the first of the services to integrate fully.