In Up and Away 1907-1942, we follow the evolution of US air power from its birth in 1907 to its emergence during World War II as the greatest air force ever conceived. During this thirty-fi ve year period, aviation technology grew by leaps and bounds, evolving from the simple bi-planes of the Wright Brothers to the giant bombers and fi ghter aircraft that would come to play a critical role in the conduct of the war. THE BEGINNINGS 1907-1939 In this chapter, we examine the birth of the Army Air Force, its role during World War I, its subsequent contraction after the war, the struggle of the early advocates of military aviation to persuade the Pentagon to develop an air force, and the beginnings of the modern Air Force during the 1930s. The Beginnings: The Air Force in WWI * Retrenchment: The Post War Years * The Struggle for Recognition * The Gathering Storm * The Giant Stirs * Prelude to War THE GLOBAL AIR WAR 1939-1942 In this chapter, we trace the development and use of air power in the fi rst three years of World War II. This period saw a massive expansion of American air power, from approximately 200,000 men to more than 2 million, and from approximately 2,500 planes to more than 50,000. The World at War * Counterstrike: The Doolittle Raid * Holding the Line: Midway * The Tide Turns * North Africa: The End of the Beginning * The Giant Unleashed * Air War Over Germany * The 8th Air Force * Air War in the Pacifi c Approx run time: 3 hrs, 15 min. NTSC, B&W.