This work investigates the evolution of air power theory and the development of formal doctrine within the United States Air Force from its inception in 1907 through 1960. Robert F. Futrell, a long-time historian for the Air Force, utilizes extensive archival records and official documentation to trace how early concepts of flight transformed into a structured military philosophy. The text examines the tension between technological advancement and institutional inertia, arguing that the Air Force's identity was forged through the continuous refinement of its strategic concepts.

Historians and military scholars regard this work as a foundational text for understanding the intellectual history of the United States Air Force. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a comprehensive reference for those studying the institutional development of modern air power.