Air Force Journal: Official Service Journal of the U.S. Army Air Forces

Forty years after WWII, this writer came upon 2 1/2 years of AIR FORCE, the Official Service Journal of the U.S. Army Air Forces. Upon reading their content I could only gasp at the tremendous value the many articles would have held for me and my fellow service buddies, had we only known of its existence. But perhaps, even then, we wouldn't have been able to find a copy, for they undoubtedly had been squirreled away by mail clerks, commanding officers and various personnel who were privy to review these precious gems of information. Although this may have been an unintentional oversight on their part, it meant that some lives could have been saved had the contents been more widely spread amongst the fighting men and women in our armed forces.

The AIR FORCE JOURNAL was printed each month by authority of Army Air Force Regulations No. 5-6, September 6-42, and with the approval of the Bureau of the Budget, Executive Office of the President.

A quick glance at the contents of each of the six publications in this book reveals an outstanding and diverse array of lifesaving ideas and suggestions from the pens of Air Force personnel who were in actual daily combat with our numerous enemies. They speak and write from experience. Over 80 separate stories within the 272 pages give pointers on aircraft maintenance, gunnery, navigation, trade secrets of global flying, evading enemy fighters, health hints, word from the top commanders, newest aircraft characteristics (both ours and our enemy's) whatever the Theater of Action during World War II. Since so very few of these fine publications such as the AIR FORCE JOURNAL were brought home by returning GIs and practically none are available for purchase, it was decided to publish what is available in a series of 6-month publications, starting with January through June 1943, as Series One. AIR FORCE has a soft cover of heavy duty material, 8 1/2 inches x 11 inches.

It is hoped that those interested in this dramatic period in our nation's history will welcome the reproduction of these precious gems of wisdom and enlightenment.