John Glenn captured the hearts and imagination of many Americans as the first US astronaut to orbit the earth, and he had extensive combat experience as a pilot before that. Prolific and celebrated author Jeff Shesol joins us to talk about Glenn, not just about his place in the history of the Cold War, but in deeply personal terms. He explores all this in his new book: 'Mercury Rising
John Glenn, John Kennedy, and the New Battleground of the Cold War.'

16: Jeff Shesol - John Glenn, Pilot and Astronaut

In World War II, American airmen flew key missions in the China, Burma, India theater. A vastly higher percentage of them were able to survive and return home after being shot down, compared to other theaters. To examine why, and reveal the exciting stories of these airmen and the various people who helped them on the ground, we are joined by Daniel Jackson, author of Fallen Tigers: The Fate of America's Missing Airmen in China During World War II. You can also see more of his work, including a database of downed air crews, oral histories, and more, at: http://www.forgottensquadron.com/

17: Daniel Jackson - Rescuing the Flying Tigers

The War in Syria featured heavy reliance on air power, not just by the US and its allies, but by the Russian Air Force as well. In this exciting episode, Dr. Aaron Stein discusses his new book, The US War Against ISIS, which details how air power played a key role in the conflict against terrorist groups in Syria. He also reveals the fascinating and almost unbelievable engagements between US and Russian aircraft in this complex conflict.

20: Aaron Stein - Air Power Against ISIS in Syria

The interwar period between World War I and II was a very important time for the development of air power, and this was especially true in Australia and New Zealand. Alex Spencer, curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, joins us to talk about these developments, which he discusses in his new book: British Imperial Air Power: The Royal Air Forces and the Defense of Australia and New Zealand Between the World Wars.

22: Alex Spencer - Interwar Airpower in Australia and New Zealand

Dr. Luke Truxal is author of the new book, Uniting Against the Reich: The American Air War in Europe, from University Press of Kentucky. In it, he traces how the structure of command over air forces in World War II created a mess of problems. Only late in 1943 and into 1944 did these command structures change, enabling air power to become more effective. Truxal takes us into the dramatic relationships between leaders like Dwight Eisenhower, Carl Spaatz, and more, showing why, in positions of leadership, personality matters.

44: "The Americans were clearly defeated in 1943..." Luke Truxal on Commanding Air Power in WW2

Today we're joined by Valerie Insinna, the air warfare reporter for Defense news. She tells us all about the world of defense journalism and reporting, focusing on the realm of aircraft and military air power technology. Of course we can't help but also indulge in some nerdy fandom.

03: Valerie Insinna - Air Power Journalism

To kick off the 75th anniversary year of the end of World War II, we are joined by Stephen Bourque, author of Beyond the Beach, to talk about the allied bombing of occupied France. Through a detailed look at local French sources, combined with official US sources, Bourque provides as thorough--and possibly controversial--assessment of Eisenhower's use of air power.

05: Stephen Bourque - World War II and the Bombing of French Civilians

Katherine Sharp Landdeck is here to tell us all about the WASPs, the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II. She's the author of 'The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II.' She goes beyond some of the familiar figures like Jackie Cochran and Nancy Love to tell us about other, lesser-known women in the program. And of course, we will talk about Walt Disney, because Brian will find a way!

08: Katherine Sharp Landdeck - Women Pilots in WW2

The Gallipoli Campaign during World War I is not usually connected with the pioneering use of air power, but should it be? We talk to Sterling Michael Pavelec about his new book that talks about the important role air power played at Gallipoli.

09: Sterling Michael Pavelec - Gallipoli's Air War

What happens when one country steals another's airplane? Not just to fly it, but to mass produce it? Dr. Robert M. Farley joins us for a discussion of how intellectual property dominates the world of military aircraft technology. From the Wright Brothers, to the Soviet version of the B-29, to the F-35, air power is all about IP law.

11: Robert Farley - Air Power Patent Wars

'From Balloons to Drones' is an online scholarly platform that seeks to provide analysis and debate about air power history, theory, and contemporary operations in their broadest sense including space and cyber power. https://balloonstodrones.com/