Document created: 21 April 03
Air University Review,
March-April 1976
As of this writing, the future of the B-1 is still uncertain. Opponents of the aircraft have mounted a multifaceted, multimedia campaign to kill it. In the lead article of this issue, Major General Abner Martin describes some of the improved capabilities of the B-1 and its developmental progress. Unfortunately, the complete potential of this weapon system cannot be explored in any public dialogue because of security considerations, but notwithstanding that limitation, we recommend General Martin's article to both advocates and opponents of the B-l.
Our cover shows the B-1 in brake and steering tests and static design verification tests.
In the article "Who Needs Nuclear T ACAIR?" Colonel David L. Nichols asks us to examine our tactical nuclear posture in Europe. Closely related to his thesis, a number of recent articles in the national press indicate that the close air support mission is being emphasized by both senior Army and Air Force commanders in Europe and that the demonstrated capability of terminally guided conventional munitions replaces, to some degree, our need to rely on nuclear weapons. Whether or not you agree with Colonel Nichols's conclusions, we recommend the article as a thoughtful examination of existing tactical nuclear doctrine.
With this issue of the Review, we depart from a practice of many years' standing, that of using only the in-depth essay type of book review in our Books and Ideas department. We shall continue that practice for those books that seem to merit such intensive consideration. However, for other books of more than passing interest or merit that we feel our readers would like to know something about, we shall include shorter book reviews. Here we present four of these capsule reviews, all written by staff members of the Department of History at the U.S. Air Force Academy. We are grateful to Major Donald R. Baucom of the History Department for coordinating this potpourri of reviews for us.
We are pleased to announce the addition of Lieutenant Colonel David R. Mets to our editorial staff. Colonel Mets has been a frequent contributor to various service journals and has taught Military History at both the Air Force Academy and the Military Academy. He comes to us from Korat, Thailand, where he was the commander of the 16th Special Operations Squadron, an AC-130 Gunship Squadron. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Colonel Mets has a Ph.D. in history from the University of Denver. His colleagues in the Organization of American Historians and Air Force Historical Foundation who have papers for potential publication may be interested to know that he occupies the position of Acquisitions Editor.
Disclaimer
The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.
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