Anyone have an opinion on Robert Coram's new book "Boyd, the Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War"? The book jacket claims "John Boyd may be the most remarkable unsung hero in all of American military history."
It further states: "Some remember him as the greatest U.S. fighter pilot ever -- the man who, in simulated air-to-air combat, defeated every challenger in less than forty seconds."
Coram says Boyd's Acolytes (Thomas Christie, Pierre Sprey, Raymond Leopold, Chuck Spinny, James Burton, and Mike Wyly) "believe that Boyd's final work made him the most influential military thinker since Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War 2,400 years ago."
Coram also asserts: "Boyd was a fighter pilot. He wore the Air Force uniform for 24 years. During that time he made more contributions to fighter tactics, aircraft design, and the theory of air combat than any man in Air Force history.
As a captain, Boyd wrote the widely used "Aerial Attack Study." After receiving his engineering degree at Georgia IT through the Air Force Institute of Technology sponsorship, Boyd developed his Energy-Manueverability Theory.
Boyd later moved from warrior-engineer to intellectual with the briefing "Patterns of Conflict." His influence was controversial in the Air Force, little acknowledged by the Navy, apparently accepted at least in part by the Army, and so cherished by the Marines that a statue of him in Air Force uniform is at Marine Base Quantico.
It's interesting that Robert Shaw's book "Fighter Combat" has no mention of Boyd either in its extensive bibliography or index.
What do you think? Does Boyd rank with Sun Tzu? Why doesn't Shaw acknowledge him? Have you ever heard of Boyd? Did you know him? What do you think of Boyd and his theories?
Superfluous caveat: Unless you know Boyd personally, please take a look at his book before commenting. It's a fascinating and sometimes brutal journey.
