This is a detailed portrait of the man who took on the challenge of forming an aeronautical bureau within the U.S. Navy in 1921 and then nurtured the early development of naval aviation. Describing Admiral Moffett as one of the first high-ranking naval officers to appreciate the importance of the airplane and its potential impact on the fleet, Trimble contends that the admiral�s strong background as a surface officer gave him an unmatched credibility and trust with his superiors. Trimble is equally candid about the admiral�s shortcomings, including his heavy-handed support for airships, a technological dead end that squandered millions and led to Moffett�s death in 1933 when he went down with the airship Akron during a storm. AUTHOR: William F. Trimble is an associate professor of history at Auburn University in Alabama and the author of three other books, including Wings for the Navy. 37 photos