From Balloons to Drones

We are joined by General Larry O. Spencer, former Vice Chief of Staff of the U. S. Air Force. He recounts his journey from being raised in Southeast Washington, D. C. to enlisting the U. S. Air Force, and eventually rising through the ranks to become one of only nine African Americans to wear four stars. In an organization that tends to favor pilots and aircrews, General Spencer's background as a support officer brings a different lens through which to look at the USAF and the use of airpower.

In the post-World War II years, the U.S. shifted its strategy to one focused on air power and delivery of nuclear weapons--but why and how did this happen? John Curatola, the Military Historian for the Center for War and Democracy at the National World War II Museum, takes us through the fierce rivalry between the U.S. Air Force and Navy, the scandalous "Revolt of the Admirals," and the development of thermonuclear weapons. For more, see his new book: Autumn of Our Discontent: Fall 1949 and the Crises in American National Security, from Naval Institute Press.

We're joined by F-15 pilot and MiG-killer Rick Tollini. He tells us all about the harrowing missions flown in the opening of the 1991 Gulf War. For more, check out his recent book: Call-Sign Kluso, from Casemate Press.

After WW2, women were not allowed to fly in military aviation roles, until things changed in the 1970s. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Beverly Weintraub tells up about the story of six women Naval aviators from her book: Wings of Gold: he Story of the First Women Naval Aviators from Lyons Press

Fred Haise was on Apollo 13, flew the space shuttle Enterprise, and had an extensive military aviation career. In this episode he joins us for a deep dive into all of those experiences and reveals how he is able to keep calm in tough situations and not panic. That's the subject of his new book, 'Never Panic Early: An Apollo 13 Astronaut's Journey,' from Smithsonian Books.

The Apollo program, including the moon landing, is one of the most famous events in world history, and one of the most inspirational. Dr. Teasel Muir-Harmony, curator of the Apollo collection at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, joins us to re-evaluate Apollo and look at its political dimensions across the world. She is the author of Operation Moonglow: A Political History of Project Apollo, from Basic Books.

Colonel Merryl Tengesdal flew helicopters in the US Navy before transferring to the US Air Force to become the first (and so far, only) African American woman to fly the U-2. She tells us the fascinating story of her career, what it's like to fly an aircraft on the edge of space, and drops some inspirational advice along the way.

During WW2, many allied air crews were shot down in Europe. Some escaped, some were captured, but many others became victims of Lynchjustiz (lynch justice). These lynchings were committed not just by Nazi officials, but civilians as well, as Nazi propaganda emphasized the air war. Author Dr. Kevin T. Hall joins us for a look at this difficult topic.

Our own co-host Michael Hankins goes into the hot seat to talk about his new book, Flying Camelot: The F-15, the F-16, and the Weaponization of Fighter Pilot Nostalgia, from Cornell University Press. We look at the development process of the Eagle and the Fighting Falcon, talk about the elements of fighter pilot culture, and the ever-controversial Col. John Boyd.

The interwar period between World War I and II was a very important time for the development of air power, and this was especially true in Australia and New Zealand. Alex Spencer, curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, joins us to talk about these developments, which he discusses in his new book: British Imperial Air Power: The Royal Air Forces and the Defense of Australia and New Zealand Between the World Wars.