Robert F. Dorr
Co-author of Hell Hawks, a history of an American fighter group in combat in World War II. He is an Air Force veteran (1957-60), a retired U.S. diplomat (1964-89), and an author (1955-present) of more than 70 books, as well as magazine articles and newspaper columns. He writes a weekly commentary for Air Force Times newspaper and a monthly feature for Aerospace America magazine. He lives in Oakton, Va., with his family and Labrador retriever.
Stories by Robert F. Dorr
No More C-17s for the Air Force ?
Published in Aerospace under Defense Issues, Featured, News with 1 comment
As government prepares for debate in the fall over the fiscal year 2011 defense budget, some observers believe that a Washington tradition – an annual budget slugfest over the Air Force’s hefty C-17 ...more »
C-27s Begin Training Program at Home and Operations Abroad
Published in Aerospace under Defense Technology, Featured, News with 3 comments
The U. S. Air Force is quietly making progress with its C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) – the newest fixed-wing aircraft in inventory, intended to haul cargoes “the last tactical mile” amid front-line ...more »
Big Sky Guardsmen Fly Top Cover for Hawaii
Published in Aerospace under Defense Issues, Defense Technology, Featured, News with no comments
The F-15 Eagle pilots of the Montana Air National Guard are taking on a new job thousands of miles from the expansive “Big Sky Country” where they live.
They’re defending Hawaii.
The strategic importance of ...more »
The U-28A Quietly Serves SOCOM
Published in Aerospace under Defense Technology, Featured with no comments
A new aircraft entered U.S. inventory shortly after Oct. 1, 2005, when Air Force Special Operations Command activated the 319th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The squadron soon received six U-28A ...more »
Book Review: For Military Merit: Recipients of the Purple Heart
Published in Defense Wide under Commentary, Defense Issues, Featured, History with no comments
Special operations troops and military service members caught up in terrorist attacks are among more than one million Americans who’ve received the Purple Heart.
While the original criteria specified that the award be given ...more »
Topgun Days: Dogfighting, Cheating Death, and Hollywood Glory as One of America’s Best Fighter Jocks
Published in Aerospace under Commentary, Defense Issues, Defense Technology, Featured with 6 comments
The U.S. Navy officially retired its last F-14 Tomcat in September 2006, (the actual last flight was Oct. 4) but the twin-engined, supersonic, variable sweep fighter enjoys a permanent place in lore, due ...more »
Bill Beck: A Cavalryman at the Ia Drang Valley
Published in Land Forces under Featured, History with 2 comments
When the Hueys took them into a clearing in the Ia Drang Valley, the men had no idea they were heading into a fight.
They were American air cavalrymen, trained in a new kind ...more »
Washington Prepares for a Heated “Fighter Gap” Debate in the Fall
Published in Aerospace under Commentary, Defense Issues, Featured with no comments
Some Washington observers are saying that without some change in administration policy, there will be separate “fighter gaps” in the U.S. Air Force and the U. S. Navy that will hinder America’s defense ...more »
AT-6B Texan II Shines at JEFX, But the Future Is Unclear
Published in Aerospace under Defense Technology, Featured, News with no comments
The Hawker Beechcraft AT-6B Texan II is being tested in realistic, mock-war conditions at a time when the U. S. Air Force may have a declining interest in light-armed combat aircraft.
As part of ...more »
Naval Aviation Centennial: From Props to Jets and Angled Decks
Published in Naval under Featured, History, Print Edition with no comments
Advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, wrote futurist Arthur C. Clarke. Today’s aircraft carrier surely is the closet thing to wizardry that modern man can create.
A ship like the Navy’s newest carrier, USS ...more »
