Almost as soon as airplanes were invented, military strategists realized their potential. As early as the First World War planes served as scouts, fighters, and bombers--and by World War II all the advanced states had large military air forces dedicated to bombardment. Starting with the less-than-perfect aircraft that flew over Europe in 1915, which caused countless deaths, see how technology developed between the wars; the early campaigns of WWII; air battles on the Eastern front; the defeat of the Luftwaffe; and sky combat in the Pacific. 224 pages, 70 color illus., 80 b/w illus., 7 3/4 x 10 3/8.