Six decades after World War II, we now know that the margin between Allied victory and defeat was often narrower than many realized. The decisive actions of leaders, generals and war heroes have been well documented, but less well known are the technological developments that made victory possible and laid the groundwork for postwar progress. Based on more than ten years of research, this book describes how American airmen became the best-outfitted aviators of the war, tracing the development of virtually every piece of personal equipment used by United States air forces. Drawing on original sources including formerly classified documents, the author details the myriad types of respirator equipment, parachutes, body armour, pressure suits and other flying and survival gear that were instrumental in making U.S. pilots and air crews effective. Personal anecdotes bring to life the design and testing of combat flight equipment. More than 160 photographs are included, most published here for the first time.

From the bitter temperatures of the Arctic to the sweltering jungles of the South Pacific, Army Air Forces personnel flew countless missions in extreme conditions throughout World War II. Providing suitable clothing to various crewmen aboard many different types of aircraft proved a monumental task. This volume documents the development, testing, manufacture, procurement, and utilization of flying clothing and accessories worn by American airmen during their many hard-fought campaigns around the world between 1941 and 1945. Among the garments explored are various types of flight suits - including heavy winter shearling suits and electrically heated suits - flight jackets, flotation garments, headgear, handwear, footwear, and even underwear. With appendices that include contemporary military brochures detailing the care and maintenance of flight clothing and tips on the preservation of vintage flight apparel and accessories, this study provides a thorough exploration of a rarely examined aspect of the military during World War II.

Adolf Hitler was the first head of state to have his own personal pilot and airplane. His interest in aviation as a propaganda weapon as well as transportation led him to order the establishment of a special air squadron, the Fliegerstaffel des Fuehrers. To command this unique unit, he chose Hans Baur, veteran World War I combat ace and pioneering airline pilot. During the 1930s and World War II, the Fuehrer's own pilot and special aircraft flew the famous and the infamous. Baur flew Hitler, his inner circle and visiting dignitaries throughout Europe, to Hitler's secret headquarters and to the far-flung battlefields of the Eastern Front.

Adolf Hitler trusted few men, but his faith in pilot Hans Baur never wavered. Baur, a decorated World War I flier and one of Germany's leading commercial aviators of the 1920s, joined the fledgling Nazi Party in 1926. His skill and daring and his early party membership, catapulted him to the top of the list when Adolf Hitler went in search of a pilot for his political campaign of 1932. Later, Hitler became the first head of state to use air travel extensively, and, from 1932 to 1945, Hitler refused to fly with anyone but Baur at the controls. Baur ate meals with Hitler frequently and was one of the fuhrer's few true confidants. As the tide of war turned against Germany and relations between Hitler and the Luftwaffe leadership deteriorated, Hitler increasingly relied on Baur for advice about air war policy and technical developments. In the end, Baur paid for his blind loyalty to Hitler. Trapped by the Soviet Red Army in the war-torn city of Berlin, Baur was captured after Hitler's suicide and imprisoned in the Soviet Union. Aviation historian C. G. Sweeting provides the reader with fresh insight into the inner workings of the Third Reich and the madness of Adolf Hitler. The book details many surprising episodes, such as the time Baur allowed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini to take the controls of the fuhrer's plane, and an account of Hitler's and Baur's narrow escape from a German air base as Soviet tanks arrived at the perimeter. Aviation buffs will also enjoy the author's in-depth examination of the aircraft used in Hitler's personal transport squadron. "Hitler's Personal Pilot" is a unique book that will fascinate both experts and novices on Nazi Germany with its detail andperspective on Hitler's infamous inner circle.