The Genesis of Air Power
Language: English

     The use of airborne weapons in combat characterizes armed conflict since the end of the 19^th century, and especially since the beginning of the 20^th century. Today the significance of airborne weaponry has grown to the point where it plays a decisive role in the outcome of armed and political crises.

     This book is dedicated to 100th-anniversary from the first controled human flight. It aims to clarify the genesis of air power, uncover its essence, and trace the evolution in this term during certain stages of its currency. Official historiography, memoirs, and scientific papers form the base for research.

     Subject of the study is air power: how the term emerged, what was meant by it as it developed historically, how it influenced the formulation of doctrines for the utilization of air forces and national air potential as a whole, and how it made its debut in the years prior to 1914. The very new moment is a special part for creation of Air Power in Balkan countries and meaning of new components for the military operations in Balkan Wars (1912—1913).

     A well-known rule in science is that a phenomenon cannot be undestood and studied in each of its aspects. Thus this book seeks to contribute to further clarification of terminology and processes: a clarification which would assist a future streamlining in the development of national air potential on the road to integration into collective security systems. Ultimately, arrival at a uniform terminology, and its clarification and amplification are the first steps to genuine integration.

Table of contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1. Examining air power

Air power as an element of national armed power

The structure of air power

Examining air power as a system

Chapter 2. Legend to reality

Chapter 3. Stormy progress

Chapter 4. Early combat units

Chapter 5. Emergence of air defense and air defense tactics

Chapter 6. Emergence of the components of air power and air potential

Bibliography

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