July 1942 – Challenging Traditional Thinking: Insights from “Victory Through Air Power” July 6, 1942“VICTORY Through Air Power,” the recently published book by Major Alexander P. de Seversky, packs more sound reasoning about modern warfare within its covers than anything we have read in a long, long time. Among other things, it dispels the American illusion that the men who wear gold braid on their epaulets, or clink their military spurs through Washington’s marble halls, inherit omniscience, infallibility of judgment, or just simple foresight. All along the line, month after month, we have been making every effort to demonstrate how well the Rebuilding Industry was functioning in the job of conversion. Now it appears that in addition to machinery and plant conversion we Americans are faced with the gigantic task of converting the minds of those who—to quote Seversky—“are often muscle-bound by traditional thinking.” A condensation of “Victory Through Air Power” appears in the current issue of The Reader’s Digest. We believe every American should read it. It will make us more conscious of our patriotic obligation, more willing and ready to do our part in the Battle of Production. Traditional thinking of the mentally muscle-bound variety, either in Washington or elsewhere, must not be permitted to impede our progress to Victory through Production.