Civilian Involvement in the 1990-91 Gulf War Through the Civil Reserve Air Fleet

• Other Authors: Imbriani, Charles (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Humanities
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-5368

This dissertation is about the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) and its role in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, with a special emphasis on the men and women who manned and operated the civilian aircraft. This is the first time the history of that war has been told from the standpoint of the CRAF and its crew members. Relying heavily on interviews - firsthand accounts - with the crew members who participated, and to primary and secondary sources, the historical context is recreated in which the events unfolded. Instead, however, of following the history from the political, diplomatic, and military perspectives, we approach it from the perspective of the nation's civil air carriers and through the words of its civilian crew members. We begin with a description of 'airlift' and the responsibilities of commercial aviation to the nation's defense and security through the National Airlift Policy. The history of commercial aviation and its relationship with the U.S military began just before the outbreak of WW II, and continued through the Berlin Crisis of 1948-49, the Korean War, and the War in Vietnam. That relationship led to the creation of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF). Activated for the first time in its 38 year history on August 17, 1990, the CRAF played a major role in the Persian Gulf War. Over 5000 CRAF flights operated into the war theater from August of 1990 through May of 1991. The war could not have been won by the United States and its coalition partners - within the timeframe dictated by events - without the active participation of the CRAF. The CRAF could not have fulfilled its commitments to the nation without the voluntary participation of its crew members. The civilian crew members responded overwhelmingly to the nation's call. They served with enthusiasm, commitment, and determination. Over 11,000 civilian crew members participated in those events. Their story is told here for the first time. This dissertation fills a significant historical omission; and adds to the history of America's first major military involvement in the Middle East.   === A Dissertation submitted to the Interdisciplinary Program in the Humanities in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. === Fall Semester, 2012. === October 4, 2012. === Air Carriers Crew Members, Airline Crew Members, Airline Flight Attendants, Airline Pilots, Civil Reserve Air Fleet, CRAF === Includes bibliographical references. === Peter Garretson, Professor Directing Dissertation; Jonathan Grant, University Representative; Dennis Moore, Committee Member; Irene Zanini-Cordi, Committee Member.