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Ridgeway's Paratroopers: The American Airborne in World War II
Chronicles the history of America's paratroopers in World War II and recounts the achievement of General Matthew Ridgway
588 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Clay Blair Jr.
37 books19 followersClay Blair, Jr. was an American historian, best known for his books on military history. Born in Lexington, Virginia, he served on the fleet submarine Guardfish (SS-217) in World War II and later wrote for Time and Life magazines before becoming editor-in-chief of The Saturday Evening Post. He assisted General Omar Bradley in the writing of his autobiography, A General's Life (1983), published after the general's death. Blair wrote two dozen history books and hundreds of magazine articles that reached a popular audience. His last book was Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunted, 1942–1945 (1998), which followed Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters, 1939–1942 (1996).
Blair's history of the Korean War The Forgotten War: America in Korea, 1950–1953 (1987) is considered one of the definitive historical works on the war. His work was notable for his criticism of senior American political and military leaders. Blair criticizes President Harry S. Truman and his Secretary of Defense, Louis A. Johnson, for failing to maintain the military's readiness in the years immediately following World War II. His history, while comprehensive, primarily employs a top-down perspective, with less emphasis on individual soldiers than on larger operational issues and the perspectives of general and field-grade officers. He has also been criticized by some historians for not making sufficient use of Communist sources.
Blair also wrote extensively on the submarine war of World War II, notably in the bestselling Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan (1975), considered the definitive work on the Pacific submarine war.
Blair was married for many years to Joan Blair, who co-wrote some of his books. Prior to that marriage he was married to Agnes Kemp Devereux Blair, with whom he had seven children: Marie Louise, Clay III, Sibyl, Joseph (deceased), Kemp, Robert and Christopher.
- Wikipedia
Blair's history of the Korean War The Forgotten War: America in Korea, 1950–1953 (1987) is considered one of the definitive historical works on the war. His work was notable for his criticism of senior American political and military leaders. Blair criticizes President Harry S. Truman and his Secretary of Defense, Louis A. Johnson, for failing to maintain the military's readiness in the years immediately following World War II. His history, while comprehensive, primarily employs a top-down perspective, with less emphasis on individual soldiers than on larger operational issues and the perspectives of general and field-grade officers. He has also been criticized by some historians for not making sufficient use of Communist sources.
Blair also wrote extensively on the submarine war of World War II, notably in the bestselling Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan (1975), considered the definitive work on the Pacific submarine war.
Blair was married for many years to Joan Blair, who co-wrote some of his books. Prior to that marriage he was married to Agnes Kemp Devereux Blair, with whom he had seven children: Marie Louise, Clay III, Sibyl, Joseph (deceased), Kemp, Robert and Christopher.
- Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 27, 2023
Very good
December 22, 2017
The book focuses on General Matthew Ridgway, a remarkable soldier and a formidable battlefield commander. Blair holds General Ridgway in high esteem, but does share opinions of others who do not.
Good detail throughout - most valuable sections are those covering the origins of the US Airborne formations and the development of US Army doctrine on vertical envelopment warfare. The Airborne divisions' early struggles, and the leadership's ability to learn and adapt is well documented.
Useful book for students of the Western Front and war buffs in general.
Good detail throughout - most valuable sections are those covering the origins of the US Airborne formations and the development of US Army doctrine on vertical envelopment warfare. The Airborne divisions' early struggles, and the leadership's ability to learn and adapt is well documented.
Useful book for students of the Western Front and war buffs in general.
September 10, 2012
Ridgway's Paratroopers chronicles the life and career of one of the foremost combat leaders in American history. Clay Blair, a prolific and respected author, takes the reader through Ridgway's career from staff officer through airborne division commander to Corps commander. Along the way, Blair highlights many of the officers who were influential and instrumental in creating the army's first airborne formations and the doctrine for conducting vertical envelopment warfare.
While this book does focus on the officer corps and leadership of the airborne, it provides much information and many insights into the selection, training and combat operations of American paratroopers in World War II. For those who wish a foxhole view, there are many other books that address the combat paratrooper aspect of the airborne more thoroughly.
This book contains numerous photographs and maps. It is widely sourced from a very robust bibliography, fully indexed and contains a roster of every commander and executive officer of every paratrooper unit from corps to battalion level.
Anyone interested in airborne operations in World War II would love this book!
While this book does focus on the officer corps and leadership of the airborne, it provides much information and many insights into the selection, training and combat operations of American paratroopers in World War II. For those who wish a foxhole view, there are many other books that address the combat paratrooper aspect of the airborne more thoroughly.
This book contains numerous photographs and maps. It is widely sourced from a very robust bibliography, fully indexed and contains a roster of every commander and executive officer of every paratrooper unit from corps to battalion level.
Anyone interested in airborne operations in World War II would love this book!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews