The first half of the book consists of six chapters. The first discusses the evolution of naval aviation in the United States. In particular, the emphasis is upon the early efforts of serving naval officers to establish a viable flying presence within the US Navy, despite fierce resistance and open hostility from senior officers. The second chapter addresses the Navy's efforts to enlarge its aviation programme in anticipation of the entry of the US into the War. Details are provided of both the political and inter-service rivalries which occurred as training and production schemes were implemented. Also covered are the expansion of the naval stations in the US and aviation support functions. The next two chapters cover the development of airships and aircraft, from the first purchased to the end of the War. The fifth chapter covers the contribution of the Marine Corps to the overall naval effort, beginning in 1912 and culminating in the operations of the Day Wing of the Northern Bombing Group in France in 1918. The last chapter covers the assignments carried out by the Navy and includes a discussion of the establishment of air bases in Canada, Britain, France and Italy during the War.

Over half the book is devoted to twenty-six appendices. Most of these are detailed histories of the formation and operation of individual naval air stations established in foreign service by the Navy during the War. Three other appendices discuss the formation and implementation of the naval aviation training programmes instituted at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology, University of Washington and the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis.

This is an excellent, well researched reference work, which I found very comprehensive and interesting.