ELLA CHALFANT. A Goodly Heritage. Pp. xiii, 239. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1955. $3.00

• DOI: 10.1177/000271625630400130
• Published date: 01 March 1956
• Date: 01 March 1956
• Author: George D. Harmon
• Subject Matter: Articles

155
It was too much to expect an air officer
oly on delivering nuclear bombs, and they
who was reared in the days of Lord Tren-
could be used to defend nations and fleets
chard, Douhet, and General Mitchell to be
from nuclear attacks.
entirely fair to the sea and ground forces.
The most pressing question we face
General Smith is more than generous to the
today is defense of the United States from
Navy of 1812, but in quoting from a Japa-
hostile nuclear attacks. The author is ap-
nese officer’s statement that control of the
parently convinced that the Air Force can
air in the western Pacific was the cause of
concede the Soviet Union the first blow
American victory in 1945, he leaves the
with nuclear weapon and then retaliate in-
impression that it was General Arnold’s
stantly with deadly consequences and win
strategic bombers who gained that control.
the war. If our country had followed the
Actually it was Admiral Mark Mitscher’s
advice of General Mitchell, we would have
Carrier Task Forces, operating alternately
had no aircraft carriers or carrier pilots in
under Admirals Spruance and Halsey, who
World War II. If our country accepts the
broke the back of Japanese land and sea
theory that our present Air Force after
aviation. Arnold’s bombers were not based
being subjected to a carefully prepared all
near enough to reach Japan until another
out attack, passively awaited, can retaliate
General Smith, U. S. Marines, captured the
effectively, it is inviting national disaster.
Mariannas; even then it was necessary for
W. D. PULESTON
those incomparable Marines to take an-
Captain, USN, Retired
other island, Iwo, to provide fighter escort
Lake Wales, Fla.
and emergency landing fields to reduce the
unbearable losses of bombers.
ELLA CHALFANT. A Goodly Heritage. Pp.
It was the same in Europe. Anglo-
xiii, 239. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of
American bombers were given all of 1943
Pittsburgh Press, 1955. $3.00.
to win the war by direct attacks on the
A Goodly...