The Great War in the Air: Military Aviation from 1909 to 1921 – John H. Morrow, Jr. (Smithsonian History of Aviation Series)

This meticulously researched volume by John H. Morrow Jr., a leading historian of early air warfare, chronicles the explosive rise of military aviation from its infancy through the end of the First World War. Published as part of the Smithsonian History of Aviation Series, The Great War in the Air offers a comprehensive narrative of how aeronautical power developed between 1909 and 1921 among the major Allied and Central Powers.

Morrow skillfully contextualizes the emergence of air forces within the political, technological, and industrial frameworks of the early 20th century. Drawing from an extensive range of primary sources, he examines both the strategic use of aircraft in combat and the bureaucratic, logistical, and national challenges that shaped each nation’s approach to aerial warfare. Topics include reconnaissance, air-to-air combat, tactical bombing, technological innovation, and postwar implications for international aviation policy.

The book is praised for its academic rigor and readability, blending military, political, and social history into a cohesive and illuminating study. A quote on the rear cover calls it “a monumental work...an illuminatingly precise account of the growth of air power...a story of how the major powers...struggled internally as fiercely as in combat to surpass one another.”

Condition: Very good overall with minor shelf wear. Clean cover and spine with strong binding.
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
ISBN: 1-56098-238-1