Boyne, Walter J. 1929- (Walter James Boyne)

views updated

Boyne, Walter J. 1929- (Walter James Boyne)

PERSONAL:

Born February 2, 1929, in East St. Louis, IL; son of Walter William (a physician) and Emily (a teacher) Boyne; married Elizabeth Jeanne Quigley, December 26, 1952; children: Mary Louise, Katherine Elizabeth, William James, Margaret Ann. Education: University of California—Berkeley, B.S. (with honors), 1958; University of Pittsburgh, M.B.A. (with honors), 1963; Salem College, Ph.D., 1985.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Alexandria, VA. Office—21028 Starflower Way, Ashburn, VA 20147-4700. E-mail—wboyne@cqi.com.

CAREER:

Aviation writer and consultant. U.S. Air Force, career officer and command pilot, 1951-74, retired as colonel; National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC, assistant curator, 1974-75, curator, 1975-78, executive officer, 1978-80, assistant director, 1980-82, acting director, 1982-83, director, 1983-86. Wingspan television channel, chair of board of directors; Walter Boyne Associates, president; Discover Communications, aerospace expert in residence; Fighter Pilot Productions, vice president.

MEMBER:

American Aviation Historical Society (member of national advisory board), National Press Club, National Space Club (member of board of governors), Author's Guide, Daedalians, Sons of the Desert (grand sheik), Cosmos Club.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Meritorious service medal and Bronze Star, U.S. Air Force; Robert A. Brooks Award, Smithsonian Institution, 1980, for excellence in administration; Best Foreign Book award, Aero Club de France, 1982; Cliff Henderson Trophy, 1986; Best Fiction and Nonfiction awards, Aviation Space Writers, 1987; Thomas McKean Memorial Cup, 1989; Gil Robb Wilson award, AIA, 1997; named Elder Statesman of Aviation, National Aviation Association, 1998; Lauren D. Lyman Award, Aerospace Industries Association, 2005, for excellence in aviation journalism.

WRITINGS:

NONFICTION

German Aircraft and Armament: Informational Intelligence, Summary No. 44-32, October 1944, Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence (Washington, DC), 1944, Brassey's (Washington, DC), 2000.

Flying: An Introduction to Flight, Airplanes, and Aviation Careers, Prentice Hall (Englewood Cliffs, NJ), 1980.

Messerschmitt Me 262: An Arrow to the Future, Smithsonian Institution Press (Washington, DC), 1980, Schiffer Publishing (Atglen, PA), 1994.

Boeing B-52: A Documentary History, Janes Information Group (London, England), 1981, Smithsonian Institution Press (Washington, DC), 1982, Schiffer Publishing (Atglen, PA), 1994.

Aircraft Treasures of Silver Hill: The Behind-the-Scenes Workshop of Our Nation's Air Museums, Rawson Associates (New York, NY), 1982.

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 in Combat, Janes Information Group (London, England), 1983.

De Havilland DH-4: From Flaming Coffin to Living Legend, Smithsonian Institution Press (Washington, DC), 1984.

Jet Combat History: Phantom, Janes Information Group (London, England), 1984.

Phantom in Combat, Smithsonian Institution Press (Washington, DC), 1985.

The Leading Edge, Stewart, Tabori, & Chang (New York, NY), 1986.

The Smithsonian Book of Flight, Smithsonian Institution Press (Washington, DC), 1987.

Power behind the Wheel: Creativity and the Evolution of the Automobile, Stewart, Tabori, & Chang (New York, NY), 1988.

The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, Aladdin Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Flight, Time-Life Books (Alexandria, VA), 1990.

Art in Flight: The Sculpture of John Safer, Hudson Hills Press (New York, NY), 1991.

Gulf War: A Comprehensive Guide to People, Places, and Weapons, New American Library (New York, NY), 1991.

(Author of introduction and consultation) Weapons of Desert Storm, Publications International (Chicago, IL), 1991.

Silver Wings: A History of the United States Air Force, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1993.

Clash of Wings: Air Power in World War II, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1994.

Clash of Titans: World War II at Sea, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1995.

Classic Aircraft, Magna Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Beyond the Wild Blue: A History of the United States Air Force, 1947-1997, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 1997.

(Contributor) Legends of Flight: With the National Aviation Hall of Fame, Publications International (Chicago, IL), 1997.

Beyond the Horizons: The Lockheed Story, Thomas Dunne Books (New York, NY), 1998.

B-2 Spirit: The Most Capable War Machine on the Planet, McGraw-Hill Professional (New York, NY), 1999.

B-17 Flying Fortress: The Symbol of Second World War Air Power, McGraw-Hill Professional (New York, NY), 2000.

Pushing the Limits, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2000.

Hitler's Squadron: The Fuehrer's Personal Aircraft & Transportation Unit, 1933-1945, Brassey's (Washington, DC), 2001.

(With John C. Fredriksen) International Warbirds: An Illustrated Guide to World Military Aircraft, 1914-2000, ABC-CLIO (Santa Barbara, CA), 2001.

Aces in Command: Fighter Pilots as Combat Leaders, Brassey's (Washington, DC), 2001.

The Best of Wings Magazine, Brassey's (Washington, DC), 2001.

Two o'Clock War: The 1973 Yom Kippur Conflict and the Airlift That Saved Israel, Thomas Dunne Books (New York, NY), 2002, published as The Yom Kip-pur War and the Airlift Strike That Saved Israel, St. Martin's Griffin (New York, NY), 2003.

The 451st Bomb Group in World War II: A Pictorial History, 2002.

(With Lon O. Nordeen) Air Warfare in the Missile Age, Smithsonian Institution Press (Washington, DC), 2002.

The Influence of Air Power upon History, Pelican Publishing (Gretna, LA), 2003.

(With Gary E. Weir) Rising Tide: The Untold Story of the Russian Submarines That Fought the Cold War, Basic Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Operation Iraqi Freedom: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, and Why, Forge (New York, NY), 2003.

Chronicle of Flight: A Year-by-year History of Aviation, foreword by Mae C. Jemison, Publications International (Lincolnwood, IL), 2003.

Soaring to Glory: The Air Force Memorial, Donning Company Publishers (Virginia Beach, VA), 2007.

(With Jeff Milstein) AirCraft: The Jet as Art, Abrams (New York, NY), 2007.

"EAGLES" SERIES; FICTION

Trophy for Eagles, Crown (New York, NY), 1989.

Eagles at War, Crown (New York, NY), 1991.

Air Force Eagles, Crown (New York, NY), 1992.

Eagles at War: Demonology, Random House (New York, NY), 1996.

EDITOR

(With Donald S. Lopez) The Jet Age: Forty Years of Jet Aviation, Smithsonian Institution Press (Washington, DC), 1979.

(With Donald S. Lopez) Vertical Flight: The Age of the Helicopter, Smithsonian Institution Press (Washington, DC), 1984.

Amelia Earhart and George P. Putnam, Last Flight, Orion Books (New York, NY), 1988.

J.D. Morelock, The Army Times Book of Great Land Battles: From the Civil War to the Gulf War, Berkley Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Timothy M. Laur and Steven L. Llanso, Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military Weapons, Berkley Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Fly Past, Fly Present: A Celebration of Preserved Aviation, Arms and Armour (London, England), 1995.

Tom Donnelly and Sean Naylor, Clash of Chariots: The Great Tank Battles, Berkley Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Dan Cragg, Generals in Muddy Boots: A Concise Encyclopedia of Combat Commanders, Berkley Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Brayton Harris, The Navy Times Book of Submarines: A Political, Social, and Military History, Berkley Books (New York, NY), 1997.

(With Philip Handleman) Brassey's Air Combat Reader, Brassey's (Washington, DC), 1999.

Air Warfare: An International Encyclopedia, foreword by Michael J. Dugan, ABC-CLIO (Santa Barbara, CA), 2002.

Today's Best Military Writing: The Finest Articles on the Past, Present, and Future of the U.S. Military, Forge (New York, NY), 2004.

OTHER

(With Steven L. Thompson) The Wild Blue: The Novel of the U.S. Air Force, Crown (New York, NY), 1986.

Dawn over Kitty Hawk: A Novel of the Wright Brothers, Forge (New York, NY), 2003.

Roaring Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age, Forge (New York, NY), 2006.

Supersonic Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age, Forge (New York, NY), 2007.

Author of introduction to Classics: U.S. Aircraft of World War II, Howell Press (Charlottesville, VA), 1987, and Aviation: A History through Art, Howell Press (Charlottesville, VA), 1992. Author of foreword to Around the World in Eight Days: The Flight of the Winnie Mae, Orion (New York, NY), 1989; Men in the Air: The Best Flight Stories of All Time from Greek Mythology to the Space Age, Crown (New York, NY), 1990; The Book of Air Shows, Schiffer Aviation History (Atglen, PA), 1993; The Greatest Flight: Reliving the Aerial Triumph That Changed the World, Andrews and McMeel (New York, NY), 1995; and How to Write, Publish and Sell Your Own Aviation Books, Tri-Pacer Press (Pembroke Pines, FL), 1998.

Author of "Guess What," a monthly column in Airline Pilots Association Journal. Contributor of more than 200 articles to magazines. Associate editor of Wings and Airpower; contributing editor of Aerophile. Beyond the Wild Blue was translated into Chinese, 2000.

SIDELIGHTS:

After serving his country in the U.S. Air Force as a career officer and command pilot, Walter J. Boyne rose through the ranks of the administration at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, becoming its director in 1982. Boyne has also written widely on aviation topics, publishing hundreds of articles and dozens of books, including four novels. As he once told CA: "My career has been devoted to aviation, writing, and the historical research required to present new material from primary sources."

While the public often views a historical topic from a singular perspective, Boyne acknowledged its complexity: "I believe that the only thing you find in archives is a record of what the last man wanted you to think. It is imperative to cross-check historical records with principals, where possible, and with independent sources." Among Boyne's many publications number works on individual aircraft, histories of flight in general, the U.S. Air Force, jet aviation, the helicopter, the Lockheed company, and individual aircraft designs, as well as biographies of American military commanders and fighter pilots, and legendary pilots. He has also served as editor for series of works on aviation.

The Leading Edge is a history of man's attempts to fly, complete with beautiful photographic illustrations. While such a book is hardly unique, Boyne takes an original approach to the subject, focusing not on the pilots or the corporations behind the planes themselves, but on the scientists and inventors whose efforts improved the planes and allowed them to achieve greater feats at the hands of their pilots. Richard Witkin, in a contribution for the New York Times Book Review, praised Boyne's work, stating that "much will probably be refreshingly new even for those steeped in aeronautical lore."

Although many of his early books are histories of individual models of aircraft, Boyne also wrote a quartet of novels called the "Eagles" series about pilots' exploits during the world wars and the Korean War. In the mid-1990s, Boyne penned a trio of books about military vehicles, armaments, and strategies employed during important battles: Clash of Wings: Air Power in World War II, Clash of Titans: World War II at Sea, and Clash of Chariots: The Great Tank Battles. In the first title, Boyne provides readers with an overview of the aircraft, leaders, and strategy used during World War II. Booklist contributor Roland Green described its author as "knowledgeable and literate," an American Heritage reviewer praised Clash of Wings as a "brisk, well-written history," and a Publishers Weekly critic called it a "stimulating overview." Similarly, in Clash of Titans Boyne provides, with what a Publishers Weekly critic called "fervid enthusiasm," an overview of naval operations during World War II. The critic praised Boyne's ability to explain complex maneuvers in a "refreshingly outspoken" manner. In Clash of Chariots, as editor, Boyne surveys armored vehicle operations from the Battle of France in 1940 to Desert Storm in 1991. A Publishers Weekly critic described the book as "well-written and informed."

Written to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Air Force, Beyond the Wild Blue: A History of the United States Air Force, 1947-1997 is a "thorough and readable history" to quote Library Journal contributor Mel D. Lane. While a Publishers Weekly critic commented that Boyne "effectively describes the development of aerospace technology," the same critic drew on newly declassified documents to express reservations about the slant of Boyne's history. The critic suggested that Boyne "spin-doctored" errors in judgment, disputes between tactical and strategic factions of the air force, and the reorganization that took place in the early 1990s. On the other hand, Roland Green, writing in Booklist, acknowledging that Boyne presents the air force perspective on controversial matters, praised him for giving "full justice" to many aspects of the topic and in a very readable text. In Aces in Command: Fighter Pilots as Combat Leaders, Boyne profiles a quartet of Air Force aces: Eddie Rickenbacker, Hubert Zemke, Frederick Blesse, and Robin Olds. He focuses on the combination of qualities that made them successful: "a warrior ethos, charisma, and superb teaching skills," as John Sherwood explained in Air Power History. Sherwood noted that Boyne's is the first study to explore aces as commanders, concluding that "this compelling volume" contains "much of interest."

In his 1998 title, Beyond the Horizons: The Lockheed Story, Boyne chronicles in detail the history of the Lockheed company from its founding by the Loughhead brothers in the 1910s to its merger with the Martin Marietta company in 1995. According to Booklist reviewer David Rouse, Boyne gives little attention to some of the management and financial problems and the bribery scandal of the 1970s that beset the company, creating an "admiring and somewhat sanitized" company history. Even if this is so, Rouse thought the book "quite worthwhile," and Library Journal contributor Mel D. Lane called it a "solid history of a unique business."

Boyne also published The Best of Wings Magazine, a collection of some two dozen of Boyne's articles from Wings magazine, of which he was associate editor, and Two o'Clock War: The 1973 Yom Kippur Conflict and the Airlift That Saved Israel. In the latter Boyne recounts the events of the Yom Kippur war and U.S. involvement in it, particularly the massive American military airlift, which a Publishers Weekly critic called the "best and most useful" part of the volume. A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented that not only does Boyne describe wartime events, he "does a fine job … of correcting the historical record."

Air Warfare: An International Encyclopedia, for which Boyne served as editor, offers readers a broad overview of a wide assortment of subjects related to war and battles conducted in the air. Subjects touched upon include types of planes, their makers, engineers, scientists, different types of gadgets used on the planes, various military terms, specific battles, women's roles in air warfare, and the space programs of both the United States and the Soviet Union. As is standard in an encyclopedia, the topics are arranged alphabetically, and individual articles have been inserted periodically for greater depth of information. Eldon Younce, in a review for Library Journal, noted that readers with prior knowledge of the planes' numbers and manufacturers will have a simpler time accessing their entries due to their organization within the book, but concluded that "this set contains a wealth of information that would otherwise be difficult to locate."

Dawn over Kitty Hawk: A Novel of the Wright Brothers focuses not only on Wilbur and Orville Wright but also on other aviation pioneers, including Glenn Curtiss, Otto Lillienthal, and Samuel Langley. Boyne starts the book with an overview of the Wright brothers' background and early history before moving into the innovation period, when they were up against stiff competition to be the first to fly. Boyne takes liberty with history in creating a novelization of the early days of aviation. This was an issue for Joseph M. Eagan, who wrote in a Library Journal review that Boyne's "writing style is often more appropriate to nonfiction than fiction." Booklist contributor George Cohen, however, described it as "an absorbing book, rich in detail." Writing in Kliatt, John E. Boyd summarized that Dawn over Kitty Hawk is "well-written" and "puts flesh and blood on the early pioneers of aviation."

In The Influence of Air Power upon History, Boyne describes the role of aircraft in shaping history through their decisive victories in various wars of the modern era. In particular, and partly due to Boyne's own experience, he focuses on the bomber and its development and improvement since World War I. Boyne directed the content and vocabulary toward a general readership and coincided its publication with the centennial of the Wright brothers' first flight. Reviews for the book were mostly positive. Paul D. Berg, writing in Air & Space Power Journal, noted that Boyne "skillfully conveys a vision that highlights the strength of airpower's influence rather than its supposedly inherent limitations." Writing in History: Review of New Books, John Daly complimented Boyne's "excellent" bibliography but had doubts about several "debatable conclusions." Concluding a Booklist review, Roland Green commented that "Boyne's clearly written book brings air power into the military-history mainstream."

Operation Iraqi Freedom: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, and Why praises the U.S. military for the efficient job they did in Iraq during the U.S.-led invasion. Even though combat continued through the publication of this book, Boyne focuses primarily on the initial thrust into the country to Baghdad, writing only on military matters and avoiding political commentary. Booklist contributor Margaret Flanagan noted that "military history buffs will devour this timely examination of contemporary warfare." Frederick A. Johnsen, writing in Airpower, concluded that the book "is a remarkable and concise book for anyone seeking an overview of the recent war in Iraq."

Rising Tide: The Untold Story of the Russian Submarines That Fought the Cold War, which Boyne wrote with Gary E.Weir, takes a look at the fleet of submarines that were developed by the Soviet Union for their naval forces over the course of the Cold War. While these vessels started out as menacing, the emphasis placed on strong naval technology during this period led the Soviets to invest major funding into the development of even more powerful, stealthy submarine technology. The updated subs were powered by nuclear reactors that allowed for virtually silent propulsion, and the strength of the submarines' hulls allowed them to sink to and travel at previously unheard-of depths. Unfortunately, even as the Soviets sank a wealth of funds into the design and improvement of their submarines, they neglected the education and training of their operators, resulting in sailors ill-prepared to man the subs and resentful of their harsh working conditions, as well as numerous accidents at sea. Over the course of their research for the book, Boyne and Weir interviewed a number of men who used to be Soviet naval officers and crew who worked in the undersea divisions, learning both about the submarines they manned and the quality of the staff. Raymond Puffer, in a review for Kliatt, remarked that Boyne's and Weir's effort "nicely balances the technical story with the social and political forces at the heart of the Soviets' undersea forces."

Boyne served as the editor of Today's Best Military Writing: The Finest Articles on the Past, Present, and Future of the U.S. Military, a volume that gathers an assortment of works of military writing, primarily gleaned from the collection Boyne himself had amassed over the previous five years. The subjects are varied and by no means limited to modern warfare, though several essays address more current issues, including both homeland security and actions taken by the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Reviewers found some of the essays uneven, with technical language that is unlikely to make for an easy read for a layperson. However, Edward J. Metz, in a review for Library Journal, noted that "the editor does succeed in showcasing worthy examples of the vibrant literature on military affairs currently flourishing." John Darrell Sherwood, writing for Air Power History, commented: "The Armed Forces desperately need works like this one and Walter Boyne has proven himself to be up to the task. With some refinement in his methodology and annual updates, Today's Best Military Writing promises to emerge as a ‘must-read’ for anyone in the field."

Boyne returned to the concept of novelizing historic events with Roaring Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age. The novel starts in the 1930s with Germany, England, France, and the United States all racing to develop jet engine technology. The large cast of characters in the novel mixes Vance Shannon, the fictional main character, with real pioneers of jet engine development and piloting. Reviews were mixed, however. A critic writing in Kirkus Reviews concluded: "The characters are never more than stick figures, but aviation fans will eat up the history and put up with the fiction." David Pitt, reviewing the novel in Booklist, commented that "Boyne packs the novel with historically accurate detail. As a novelist, he's on shakier ground." A contributor to Publishers Weekly had difficulty with the technical terminology of jet technology but admitted that "Boyne writes convincingly about flying."

With Supersonic Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age, Boyne returns to the world he created with Roaring Thunder. The book focuses on three men—father Vance Shannon and his twin sons, Tom and Harry—all introduced in the previous installment of the series. The three of them eat, sleep, and breathe in the world of airplanes. They have worked on both sides of the airfield, both as engineers of new aircraft technology and as virtuoso flyers in their own right. Starting in the mid-1950s and continuing for nearly twenty years, The Shannons work for the government to assist in developing specialized technology to keep the United States safe, including satellites, missiles, and spy planes, and deal with the various political and historical events of this period that have bearing on their activities, such as Sputnik and the Cuban Missile Crisis. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly opined that "the aviation history and tech talk are sparkling, but the plot is an anemic mix of family saga." A contributor for Kirkus Reviews had a similar reaction to the book, stating that it is "not much of a story, but the history is vivid enough that you might want to take a ride."

Reflecting on his varied career, Boyne once told CA: "The military life is far different than it is commonly portrayed in film and literature. While there is a core of regimentation at the working level, there is far more opportunity for individualism and creativity than one finds in corporate work. There is more tolerance, more appreciation and more competition than anyone imagines. There is a facade that is deceptive; underneath it is an intensive, stimulating environment.

"The world of museums presents an almost opposite situation; outwardly a calm, placid and scholarly outpost of academe, it is actually like any other community of people, filled with turbulence, personal conflict, jealousy, rage, hurt feelings, achievement, and, hopefully, some public satisfaction. In many respects, museum people are closer to theater people than to academics; there is always a show that must go on, and while it is based on research efforts rather than acting ability, the final product is intended to please a demanding audience."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Aerospace Power Journal, summer, 2002, review of The Best of Wings Magazine, p. 123.

Air & Space Power Journal, fall, 2004, Paul D. Berg, review of The Influence of Air Power upon History.

Air & Space Smithsonian, August, 1992, review of Air Force Eagles, p. 86.

Airpower, March 1, 2004, Frederick A. Johnsen, review of Operation Iraqi Freedom: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, and Why, p. 10.

Air Power History, winter, 1997, review of Beyond the Wild Blue: A History of the United States Air Force, 1947-1997, p. 62; fall, 2001, John Sherwood, review of Aces in Command: Fighter Pilots as Combat Leaders, p. 48; winter, 2004, Sam McGowan, review of Two o'Clock War: The 1973 Yom Kippur Conflict and the Airlift That Saved Israel; summer, 2005, John Darrell Sherwood, review of Today's Best Military Writing: The Finest Articles on the Past, Present, and Future of the U.S. Military; spring, 2007, Robert J. Davis, review of Roaring Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age.

American Heritage, October, 1994, review of Clash of Wings: Air Power in World War II, p. 102.

American History Illustrated, January, 1988, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight, p. 8.

American Spectator, December, 1986, review of The Wild Blue: The Novel of the U.S. Air Force, p. 27.

Appraisal, summer, 1989, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 14.

Armor, May 1, 2003, Youssef Aboul-Enein, review of Two o'Clock War, p. 50.

Aviation History, March, 2001, C.V. Glines, review of Brassey's Air Combat Reader, p. 58; March, 2002, Mike Hill, review of The 451st Bomb Group in World War II: A Pictorial History, pp. 60-61.

Best Sellers, December, 1986, review of The Wild Blue, p. 324; January, 1987, review of The Leading Edge, p. 392.

Booklist, February 15, 1983, review of Aircraft Treasures of Silver Hill: The Behind-the-Scenes Workshop of Our Nation's Air Museums, p. 751; October 1, 1984, review of Vertical Flight: The Age of the Helicopter, p. 176; July, 1986, review of The Wild Blue, p. 1561; November 15, 1987, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight, p. 523; January 1, 1989, review of Power behind the Wheel: Creativity and the Evolution of the Automobile, p. 738; March 15, 1989, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 1292; April 15, 1989, review of Trophy for Eagles, p. 1409; April 15, 1991, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 1634; May 15, 1991, review of Weapons of Desert Storm, p. 1763; May 15, 1994, Roland Green, review of Clash of Wings, p. 1661; May 1, 1995, Gilbert Taylor, review of Clash of Titans: World War II at Sea, p. 1549; April 15, 1997, Roland Green, review of Beyond the Wild Blue, pp. 1367-1368; September 1, 1998, David Rouse, review of Beyond the Horizons: The Lockheed Story, pp. 41-42; May 1, 2003, George Cohen, review of Dawn over Kitty Hawk: A Novel of the Wright Brothers, p. 1576; July 1, 2003, Roland Green, review of The Influence of Air Power upon History, p. 1850; November 15, 2003, Margaret Flanagan, review of Operation Iraqi Freedom, p. 567; December 1, 2005, David Pitt, review of Roaring Thunder, p. 24.

Book Report, March-April, 1989, William J. Smith, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 39.

Book Watch, May, 1991, review of Weapons of Desert Storm, p. 8.

Business Week, December 12, 1988, review of Power behind the Wheel, p. 133.

Children's Book Review Service, January, 1989, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 56.

Choice, December, 1984, review of Vertical Flight, p. 577; November, 1987, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight, p. 499.

Finescale Modeler, May, 1995, review of Silver Wings: A History of the United States Air Force, p. 73.

Flying, October, 1986, review of The Wild Blue, p. 91; January, 1988, Richard L. Collins, reviews of The Smithsonian Book of Flight and Classics, p. 95.

History: Review of New Books, January 1, 2004, John Daley, review of The Influence of Air Power upon History, p. 80.

Horn Book, March, 1989, Margaret A. Bush, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, pp. 223-224.

Journal of Military History, July, 1994, review of Silver Wings, p. 568; April, 1995, Kenneth P. Werrell, review of Clash of Wings, pp. 357-358; October, 1995, review of Clash of Titans, p. 749; January, 2002, Timothy P. Mulligan, review of The Navy Times Book of Submarines: A Political, Social, and Military History, pp. 247-248.

Junior Bookshelf, December, 1989, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 289.

Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 1986, review of The Wild Blue, p. 1222; November 15, 1988, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 1671; April 1, 1989, review of Trophy for Eagles, p. 481; March 15, 1991, review of Eagles at War, p. 340; April 15, 1992, review of Air Force Eagles, p. 479; April 1, 1994, review of Clash of Wings, p. 448; April 15, 1995, review of Clash of Titans, p. 521; March 15, 1997, review of Beyondthe Wild Blue, pp. 427-428; September 1, 1998, review of Beyond the Horizons, p. 1247; June 15, 2002, review of Two o'Clock War, pp. 850-851; March 15, 2003, review of Dawn over Kitty Hawk, p. 409; November 1, 2005, review of Roaring Thunder, p. 1153; November 1, 2006, review of Supersonic Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age, p. 1090.

Kliatt, January 1, 2005, Raymond Puffer, review of Rising Tide: The Untold Story of the Russian Submarines That Fought the Cold War, p. 34; March 1, 2006, John E. Boyd, review of Dawn over Kitty Hawk, p. 20.

Library Journal, February 15, 1983, review of Aircraft Treasures of Silver Hill, p. 406; March 1, 1983, review of Aircraft Treasures of Silver Hill, p. 450; September 1, 1984, review of Vertical Flight, p. 1682; October 15, 1986, Andrea Lee Shuey, review of The Wild Blue, p. 107; February 1, 1989, Jack F. Peretti, review of Power behind the Wheel, p. 80; March 1, 1989, Ellis Mount and Barbara A. List, review of Power behind the Wheel, p. 46; May 1, 1994, Mel D. Lane, review of Clash of Wings, pp. 119-120; May 15, 1995, Michael Coleman, review of Clash of Titans, p. 81; June 1, 1997, Mel D. Lane, review of Beyond the Wild Blue, p. 112; October 1, 1998, Mel D. Lane, review of Beyond the Horizons, p. 106; March 15, 1999, Richard Drezen, review of Beyond the Horizons, p. 44; November, 2002, Eldon Younce, review of Air Warfare: An International Encyclopedia, p. 96; May 15, 2003, Joseph M. Eagan, review of Dawn over Kitty Hawk, p. 122; September 1, 2004, Edward J. Metz, review of Today's Best Military Writing, p. 166.

Library Talk, May, 1989, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 28.

Los Angeles, December, 1986, Tom Link, review of The Leading Edge, p. 302.

Los Angeles Times, May 30, 1997, James P. Pinkerton, review of Beyond the Wild Blue, p. B7.

Los Angeles Times Book Review, May 21, 1989, review of Trophy for Eagles, p. 10.

Marine Corps Gazette, May, 1995, review of Clash of Wings, p. 82.

Military Review, March, 1995, review of Clash of Wings, p. 108.

Motor Trend, October, 1991, review of Power behind the Wheel, p. 26.

Naval War College Review, fall, 1995, review of Clash of Wings, p. 125; summer, 1998, review of Clash of Titans, p. 150.

Newsweek, February 18, 1991, review of Weapons of Desert Storm, p. 62.

New York Times Book Review, October 12, 1986, Richard Witkin, review of The Leading Edge, p. 29; November 23, 1986, Mason Buck, review of The Wild Blue, p. 24; August 27, 1989, Tom Ferrell, review of Trophy for Eagles, p. 16; November 23, 1997, Russell F. Weigley, review of Beyond the Wild Blue, p. 40; October 12, 1986, Richard Witkin, "Nonfiction: The Wild Blue Drawing Boards."

Parameters: U.S. Army War College Quarterly, fall, 1995, review of Clash of Wings, p. 118; September 22, 2004, Tami Davis Biddle, review of The Influence of Air Power Upon History, p. 154.

PR Newswire, December 14, 2005, "Walter J. Boyne Named Lyman Award Winner."

Publishers Weekly, August 29, 1986, Sybil Steinberg, review of The Wild Blue, p. 385; September 19, 1986, Genevieve Stuttaford, review of The Leading Edge, p. 130; April 8, 1988, Penny Kaganoff, review of Last Flight, p. 87; September 2, 1988, Genevieve Stuttaford, review of Power behind the Wheel, p. 94; November 25, 1988, Genevieve Stuttaford and Kimberly Olson Fakih, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 66; May 5, 1989, Sybil Steinberg, review of Trophy for Eagles, p. 65; April 5, 1991, Sybil Steinberg, review of Eagles at War, p. 132; March 30, 1992, review of Air Force Eagles, p. 88; November 2, 1992, review of Art in Flight: The Sculpture of John Safer, p. 70; May 16, 1994, review of Clash of Wings, p. 59; April 17, 1995, review of Clash of Titans, pp. 43-44; July 8, 1996, review of Clash of Chariots: The Great Tank Battles, p. 70; April 28, 1997, review of Beyond the Wild Blue, pp. 65-66; November 10, 1997, review of The Navy Times Book of Submarines, p. 64; September 21, 1998, review of Beyond the Horizons, p. 68; April 5, 1999, review of Brassey's Air Combat Reader, p. 234; September 10, 2001, "Stars, Stripes, and Air Power," review of The Best of Wings Magazine, p. 85; July 1, 2002, review of Two o'Clock War, p. 68; May 12, 2003, John F. Baker, review of Operation Iraqi Freedom, p. 14; October 10, 2005, review of Roaring Thunder, p. 34; October 30, 2006, review of Supersonic Thunder, p. 38.

Reading Teacher, May, 1989, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 730.

Reference & Research Book News, December, 1988, review of Power behind the Wheel, p. 30; February, 1998, review of Beyond the Wild Blue, p. 168; August, 1999, review of Brassey's Air Combat Reader, p. 179; August, 2001, review of Aces in Command, p. 256.

Road & Track, May, 1989, Jonathan Thompson, review of Power behind the Wheel, p. 105.

Russian Life, January 1, 2004, review of Rising Tide, p. 61.

School Library Journal, February, 1987, Rita G. Keeler, review of The Leading Edge, p. 100; December, 1987, Trevelyn E. Jones, David Gale, and Lillian N. Gerhardt, review of The Leading Edge, pp. 39-40; January, 1989, Dennis Ford, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 96; October, 1991, Pat Royal, review of Eagles at War, p. 160.

Science Books & Films, May, 1987, review of The Leading Edge, p. 308; May, 1989, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 303; special edition, 1998, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 55.

SciTech Book News, December, 1986, review of The Leading Edge, p. 36; March, 2001, review of German Aircraft and Armament: Informational Intelligence, Summary No. 44-32, October 1944, p. 176; December, 2001, review of The Best of Wings Magazine, p. 175.

Social Education, April, 1989, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 235.

Technology and Culture, April, 1990, Charles K. Hyde, review of Power behind the Wheel, p. 314.

Tribune Books (Chicago, IL), December 4, 1988, review of Power behind the Wheel, p. 14; May 17, 1992, review of Air Force Eagles, p. 6; October 30, 1994, review of Clash of Wings, p. 6.

Voice of Youth Advocates, April, 1989, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People, p. 51.

Wall Street Journal (Eastern edition), June 1, 1995, John Lehman, review of Clash of Titans, p. A12.

Washingtonian, June, 1989, Howard Means, review of Trophy for Eagles, pp. 76-77.

Washington Post Book World, July 22, 1984, review of Vertical Flight, p. 12; October 5, 1986, review of The Wild Blue, p. 10; July 2, 1989, review of Trophy for Eagles, p. 4; December 6, 1989, review of The Smithsonian Book of Flight, p. 17; June 23, 1991, review of Eagles at War, p. 12; July 30, 1995, review of Clash of Titans, p. 13; January 17, 1999, review of Beyond the Horizons, p. 6.