Hap Arnold : The General Who Invented the US Air Force

General Henry Harley “Hap” Arnold is widely considered the father of the United States Air Force. But his long list of accomplishments doesn’t begin or end there. He was also the first and only five-star general of the US Air Force; one of the first US military aviators; the first American to carry air mail; and the architect of the war-winning air strategy of World War II.

In this new biography of one of the American military’s most towering figures, author Bill Yenne weaves the story of Hap Arnold’s life, from his youthful days as a cunning prankster to his sunset career as an elder statesman. All along, Yenne unfolds General Arnold’s life like the adventure story it is. A bold advocate for technological advancement, Hap Arnold was a powerful character in the golden age of aviation, an innovative warrior in the conflict that defined the modern era, and the creator of an entirely new branch of the US military.

Hap Arnold: The General Who Invented the US Air Force is a page-turning adventure biography for history buffs, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the events that shaped America and the world in the first half of the twentieth century.

Bill Yenne is the author of numerous books on military and aviation history, including Superfortress: The Boeing B-29 and American Airpower in World War II with General Curtis LeMay. His recent dual biography of Dick Bong and Tommy McGuire, Aces High: The Heroic Saga of the Two Top-Scoring American Aces of World War II, was described by pilot and bestselling author Dan Roam as “the greatest flying story of all time.” Air Force Magazine wrote that his history of the Strategic Air Command “deserves a place on any airman’s bookshelf.” The Wall Street Journal notes that he writes with “cinematic vividness.” Yenne is a member of the American Aviation Historical Society. To learn more, visit www.BillYenne.com.