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Over Lord: General Pete Quesada and the Triumph of Tactical Air Power in World War II By Thomas Alexander Hughes. New York: Free Press, 1995. Photographs. Maps. Notes. Bibliography. Pp. 380. $28.00.
Through the medium of biography, Dr. Thomas Hughes shows how General Elwood "Pete" Quesada maximized the inherent flexibility of air power and developed the air-ground team that contributed in no small measure to victory in World War II. This unique account of World War II tactical air power history, although a bit one-sided, makes a significant contribution to the field's literature.
The first quarter of Over Lord describes Quesada's early air power education and experiences that gave him a more ecumenical view of air-ground warfare than that held by most air leaders. Recruited directly from civilian life in 1924 because he was considered a nice addition to the Air Service's football team, Quesada progressed differently than most officers. His intimate association with top Army and Air Force leaders molded his own view of air warfare. Besides his attendance at both the Air Corps Tactical School and the Army's...