ASSAULT from the SKY A History of Airborne Warfare

Airborne warfare is one of the more dramatic military phenomena of the twentieth century. It is fast, dynamic and spectacular. In its short life it has brought about wide changes in military tactics and thinking, yet its practical history is so recent that it can be spanned within the adult life of men alive today. 

This book presents that history in a sharp, clear fashion, devoid of jargon, and fully illustrated by drawings, maps and contemporary colour and black and white photographs. All aspects of airborne warfare are covered, not only the generals, planners and parachutists themselves, but the aircraft, gliders, weapons and helicopters. Beginning with the interesting pre-war period when the Russians pioneered air-borne operations, this perceptive study of the uses of the arm follows the story of assault from the sky through World War II to the present day. Each theatre is taken in turn and the planning, preparation and mounting of each operation is clearly and briefly dissected, followed by a factual and critical account of the conduct of that operation, its outcome and its effect on related operations and battles in the same theatre. The geographical and historical sequence allows the complete story to unfold in coherent sections, all interrelating to the central theme of the growth of knowledge and expertise in airborne assaults. 

By this means the complex history is presented in a far simpler manner than has previously been the case and total comprehension and grasp on the part of the reader are both straightforward and quick. Five national airborne armies and the air mobile division are examined in special features. Their formation, training, equipment and weapons are described and illustrated in detail.