Although hardly noticed at the time, the event marked the dawn of a new age in aerial warfare. It was a revolution created basically by two men (Frank Whittle of Great Britain and Hans von Ohain of Germany).
The first fighting jets had little effect initially; their appearance set the stage for future generations of jet warplanes. Great Britain, the United States and Japan all developed and flew jet aircraft before the World War II ended.
Fighting Jets book is one volume included in the Time-Life Epic of Flight series.
Epic of Flight: Fighting Jets
1 The Nazi wonderbird 18
2 A proving ground in MiG Alley 45
3 The Strategic Air Command: bombers for peace 77
4 The war of a million sorties 103
5 Duels over the desert 135