From Balloons to Drones

By Major Darren Johnson During the Second World War, the United States (US) achieved success on the battlefield, largely due to its effective coordination of air and ground forces. The integration of these elements did not come easily; personality conflicts, misinterpretation of doctrine, and a lack of joint training opportunities had hindered innovation during the … Continue reading Learning Lessons: The Development of US Tactical Air Power and Air-to-Ground Coordination during the North…

By Dr Ross Mahoney Editorial note: This article appears on the author’s website. It has been reproduced here with permission. D-Day, the Allied invasion of Europe in Normandy on 6 June 1944, has left an indelible mark on our cultural memory, as illustrated by the 2026 US release of the film Pressure. This film tells … Continue reading The Royal Australian Air Force on D-Day: Operations in the Mediterranean →

By Dr Ross Mahoney On this day ten years ago, Form Balloons to Drones published its first post, an editorial announcing the new webzine. Since then, we have published a range of content, including articles, book reviews, and our podcast series. The webzine’s origins lie in a 2016 decision to gauge interest among air power … Continue reading #Editorial – From Balloons to Drones: 10 Years On →

Reviewed by Dr Ross Mahoney Randall Wakelam, William March and Peter Rayls (eds.), On the Wings of War and Peace: The RCAF during the Early Cold War. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press, 2023. Glossary. Appendices. Index. xix + 438 pp. The early years of the Cold War, particularly the 1950s, have been described as … Continue reading #BookReview – On the Wings of War and Peace →

By Őmer Őzkan “These drones are originally an Iranian design. We took them back to America, made them better, and fired them right back at Iran,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, referring to the one-way attack drones used for the first time during Operation Epic Fury under Task Force Scorpion Strike. The remark … Continue reading #Commentary – The Shahed Lesson: When Great Powers Emulate the Underdog →

Reviewed by Dr Brian Laslie Rob Zettel, American MiG Pilot: Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles” MiG Squadron. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2026. Appendices. Glossary. Index. Images. Hbk. 366 pp. The reviewer approached Osprey Publishing’s new work, American MiG Pilot: Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles” MiG Squadron, with a bit of trepidation. What … Continue reading #BookReview – American MiG Pilot: Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles” MiG Squadron →

By Dr Ross Mahoney Editorial note: This article first appeared on the author’s website. It has been reproduced here with permission. On 26 July 1950, No. 1 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) conducted its first operations in support of Operation FIREDOG, the British Commonwealth’s air operations against insurgents during the Malayan Emergency. … Continue reading #ResearchNote – No. 1 Squadron RAAF Goes to War in Malaya →