The Aeronautical History Collection of Colonel Richard Gimbel

The Colonel Richard Gimbel Aeronautical History Collection contains more than 20,000 books, prints, manuscripts, and other items tracing 3,000 years of humanity’s aspirations and eventual achievement of flight. In 2000, The Friends sponsored the international scholarship and publication of The Genesis of Flight in print.

To enhance the quality of the Academy’s McDermott Library, enabling it to acquire materials, pursue projects, and broaden its scope and activities beyond those made possible by Air Force allocated funds.

The Friends of the Air Force Academy Library is a private organization. It is not a part of the Department of Defense or any of its components and it has no governmental status.

We invite you to explore our site, learn about our activities, and view the contents of some of the biographical databases and collections that provide insight into the contributions of Academy graduates and the evolution of manned flight and military airpower.

Navigation throughout this site is via the Menu Bar, Text Links, Buttons, or Thumbnail Photos. Most thumbnails will link to another page, document, or enlarge a photo. For more info, see Our Site.