The Fighter Mafia: Vietnam, The Fighter Jet, and the Future of the Air Force (English Edition)

This thesis examines the role of fighter pilots and their shared culture in the United States Air Force. This thesis argues that as a result of the Vietnam War, fighter pilots fought back against the traditional power structures within the Air Force to push through new fighter jet designs. Through examining the fighter pilot experience in the Vietnam War, this thesis argues that the failure of the Vietnam air war served as a catalyst for change in the following years. In the aftermath of Vietnam, fighter pilots sought to correct mistakes by promoting new fighter jet aircraft. Fighter pilots also gained a more prominent role in the Air Force leadership and power structure as a result of the Vietnam War. This thesis focuses on the role of technology, in particular the fighter jet, in assuring the success of the USAF fighter pilot community. This research further analyzes the long-term ramifications of the growing influence and power of fighter pilot culture.