Military History |
Author: Robert F. Williams
| Reviewed by: Jason A. Yanda, assistant professor, US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College
©2026 Jason A. Yanda
In this gripping organizational history, Robert F. Williams reveals how a tight-knit group of World War II paratroopers rose to dominate the US Army’s leadership and reshape its doctrine during the Cold War. Through bold innovation and a fiercely held airborne culture, figures like Ridgway, Taylor, and Gavin transformed civil-military relations, atomic warfare planning, and airmobile strategy. The
Airborne Mafia uncovers how subcultures can wield extraordinary influence, leaving a legacy that still echoes through today’s military institutions.
Keywords: Cold War, military strategy, organizational change, civil-military relations, leadership