This reprint of the 1942 English translation of Douhet's works, while titled “Command of the Air”, actually consists of five separate works: the original 1921 edition of “Command of the Air”, a second edition of 1927, a 1928 monograph titled “Probable Aspects of Future War”, a polemical article of 1929 called “Recapitulation”' and the 1930 study “The War of 19-.” By transporting ourselves back to the 1920s, past not only the Vietnam and Korean Wars, but nearly two decades before World War II, we become silent observers of the unfolding drama of airpower's history. Knowing that transpired after Douhet wrote, we can test our understanding, find the assumptions and conclusions of Douhet that proved false, and read with wonder those that proved true. Some of what he wrote today seems almost timeless, 'principles' perhaps of the employment of aircraft in war. Giulio Douhet was a prophet. From the perspective of today, he still bears pondering. Serious thinking about the nature of war and the role of aerospace power will not in our lifetime cease to be of value.
"Giulio Douhet's The Command of the Air is a military classic. It was the first detailed analysis of the offensive and defensive employment of the air weapon. Published in
1921, The Command of the Air asserted the decisiveness of strategic bombardment before Billy Mitchell and other air leaders had given that subject any detailed thought.
The 1927 edition . . . contains Douhet's fully developed thesis on how to use the air weapon to achieve victory. Subsequently translated into English, French, German,
and Russian, it stimulated the thinking of aviators in various countries prior to World War II."
--Col. John F. Shiner, Air University Review
"The Italian General Giulio Douhet reigns as one of the twentieth century's foremost strategic air power theorists. Along with William 'Billy' Mitchell, Douhet understood that the technological advances in weaponry made during World War I were not fully utilized by Allied commanders. Douhet thus spent the decade after the war constructing a theory that would facilitate the strategic use of what he conceived to be the biggest technological breakthrough of all, the airplane. As such scholars as Raymond Flugel have pointed out, Douhet's theories were crucial at a pivotal pre-World War II Army Air Force institution, the AirCorpsTacticalSchool."
-- Michael J. Eula, "Air""University"" Review"
The Italian General Giulio Douhet reigns as one of the twentieth century s foremost strategic air power theorists. Along with William Billy Mitchell, Douhet understood that the technological advances in weaponry made during World War I were not fully utilized by Allied commanders. Douhet thus spent the decade after the war constructing a theory that would facilitate the strategic use of what he conceived to be the biggest technological breakthrough of all, the airplane. As such scholars as Raymond Flugel have pointed out, Douhet s theories were crucial at a pivotal pre-World War II Army Air Force institution, the AirCorpsTacticalSchool.
Michael J. Eula, "Air""University"" Review""
Giulio Douhet s The Command of the Air is a military classic. It was the first detailed analysis of the offensive and defensive employment of the air weapon. Published in
1921, The Command of the Air asserted the decisiveness of strategic bombardment before Billy Mitchell and other air leaders had given that subject any detailed thought.
The 1927 edition . . . contains Douhet s fully developed thesis on how to use the air weapon to achieve victory. Subsequently translated into English, French, German,
and Russian, it stimulated the thinking of aviators in various countries prior to World War II.
Col. John F. Shiner, Air University Review"
The Italian General Giulio Douhet reigns as one of the twentieth century s foremost strategic air power theorists. Along with William Billy Mitchell, Douhet understood that the technological advances in weaponry made during World War I were not fully utilized by Allied commanders. Douhet thus spent the decade after the war constructing a theory that would facilitate the strategic use of what he conceived to be the biggest technological breakthrough of all, the airplane. As such scholars as Raymond Flugel have pointed out, Douhet s theories were crucial at a pivotal pre-World War II Army Air Force institution, the Air Corps Tactical School. Michael J. Eula, "Air"" University"" Review""
"The Italian General Giulio Douhet reigns as one of the twentieth century's foremost strategic air power theorists. Along with William 'Billy' Mitchell, Douhet understood that the technological advances in weaponry made during World War I were not fully utilized by Allied commanders. Douhet thus spent the decade after the war constructing a theory that would facilitate the strategic use of what he conceived to be the biggest technological breakthrough of all, the airplane. As such scholars as Raymond Flugel have pointed out, Douhet's theories were crucial at a pivotal pre-World War II Army Air Force institution, the Air Corps Tactical School."
-- Michael J. Eula,
Air University Review"Giulio Douhet's The Command of the Air is a military classic. It was the first detailed analysis of the offensive and defensive employment of the air weapon. Published in
1921, The Command of the Air asserted the decisiveness of strategic bombardment before Billy Mitchell and other air leaders had given that subject any detailed thought.
The 1927 edition . . . contains Douhet's fully developed thesis on how to use the air weapon to achieve victory. Subsequently translated into English, French, German,
and Russian, it stimulated the thinking of aviators in various countries prior to World War II."
--Col. John F. Shiner, Air University Review
