Airpower: End of WWI Through WWII 1

Overview Background—The 1920s General Mitchell’s Crusade The Air Corps Act of 1926 Air Corps Tactical School Move To Autonomy in the 1930s WWII Begins The United States Prepares for War The Army Air Forces

Overview (cont’d) The U.S. Enters the Second World War America and its Allies Plan Strategy The United States on the Offensive U.S. Strategic Bombing Effort Against Germany The Air War Against Japan Tactical Airpower in the Pacific Strategic Airpower in the Pacific The End of the Second World War Evolution of Airpower

The Interwar Years 1

Background to the Interwar Years Following WWI, the United States returned to isolationism Army Air Service reduced from 20,000 officers in 1918 to near 200 in late1919 (2000 total including reserve officers…only 200 regular officers) Civilian aviation boomed; military budgets cut Air service sought to develop an air doctrine Period marked by organizational changes and personality clashes Few saw the potential of the airplane 2

Brig Gen William “Billy” Mitchell Deputy Chief of Air Service in 1919 Believed the airplane would change the defense establishment Believed the air service was an offensive force equal to the Army and Navy The Army and Navy strongly opposed these views Americans wanted no part of a service that looked offensive in nature 3

Billy Mitchell (cont’d) A visionary, fanatic, and prophet Alienated many due to constant attacks and need for 100% support Technology not capable of meeting his expectations—cost him credibility Tried to work within the System Dickman Board of 1919 Assigned aviation units to ground control Identified aviation unit functions Menoher Board of 1919-20 First nation to mobilize an air fleet in wartime would have the advantage 4

Army Reorganization Act Passed by Congress in 1920 Air Service raised in stature equal to the Infantry, Artillery, etc. Air Service granted procurement, research, and training autonomy Air Service units assigned to ground control (opposed by General Mitchell) Army aircraft coastal defense mission specified and limited Image not copyrighted. 4

Brig Gen Mitchell vs. Navy Claimed the battleship was obsolete Replaced by more effective and economical airplane Air Service planes bombed and sank three ships Infuriated the Navy leadership Sparked interservice feuding Air Service still not given the mission of coastal defense 4

Mitchell’s Last Campaign 1922-1924—General Mitchell concentrated on developing doctrine; advocated strategic bombardment 1925—Demoted to colonel because of his unrelenting support for a separate air force After the crash of the dirigible “Shenandoah,” he accused military leaders of “incompetence and criminal negligence” Court-martial began on 28 October 1925 5

Mitchell’s Legacy Focused attention on airpower Forced acceptance of the potential of airpower Mentored many aviators who would carry on his work—some became instructors at the Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS) 6

Mitchell Video

Air Corp Act of 1926 Can be thought of as being triggered by General Mitchell Army Air Service became Army Air Corps Additional Assistant Secretary of War appointed to oversee air units Air sections authorized in General Staff divisions Flying units to be commanded by rated officers 7

Air Corp Tactical School (ACTS) Founded in 1920 at Langley Field, Virginia Renamed Air Corps Tactical School in 1926 Moved to Maxwell Field, Alabama in 1931 Original mission to teach air strategy and tactics Mission changed to developing and teaching air doctrine (principles and philosophy) 7

ACTS (cont’d) Future wars would be decided by airpower Airplane would be the primary offensive weapon of modern forces High-altitude, strategic, daylight bombing could paralyze and defeat an industrialized enemy without heavy losses 8

ACTS (cont’d) Preoccupation with bombers and their missions overwhelmed other teachings Claire Chennault Led the Flying Tigers in WWII Taught pursuit aviation—advocated escorting bombers and strafing enemy rear areas George Kenney Commanded the Pacific Air Force in WWII Taught attack aviation—strafing attacks on enemy troops and behind enemy lines 9

Organizational Changes Army Reorganization Act of 1920 Air Service gained autonomy in R&D, procurement, personnel, supply, and training Air Corps Act of 1926 Changed the name of the Air Service to Air Corps; implied the Air Corps was capable of independent operations Establishment of General Headquarters (GHQ) Air Force in 1935 Placed all tactical units under the Commander, GHQ Recognized an independent aviation branch within the Army 10

The German Blitzkrieg 1 September 1939—Germany attacks Poland Luftwaffe aircraft were employed: To gain air superiority Cut supply lines Support ground forces Germany then easily conquered Denmark, Norway, The Netherlands, Belgium, and France 4

United States Prepares for War Army Air Corps was expanded July 1940—Air Corps expands to 54 combat groups to include 14 heavy bomb groups March 1941—Air Corps expands to 84 combat groups to include 24 heavy bomb groups Emphasis placed on bombers, not escort aircraft—hurts US bombing efforts B-17 B-24 6

Air War Plans Division Plan # 1 Formulated in response to Roosevelt's call for American air doctrine Established independent operating objectives for the Army Air Force Called for precision bombing of German industry and economy Flawed because it did not provide for long-range fighter escort P-51 7

AWPD 1—Target List Emphasized the offensive nature of the mission Ground support missions were secondary Four major targets were… Electrical power facilities Transportation assets and structures Synthetic petroleum production plants Aircraft industry facilities 8

Forming the Army Air Force (AAF) Army Air Corps and GHQ Air Force merged in June 1941 to form AAF Merger resulted from decentralization of the War Department General Staff begun by General George Marshall in 1940 General Hap Arnold named commander One step from full independence as a separate service 2

Arnold Video

The United States Enters WW II Relations between the United States and Germany deteriorate—USS Reuben James sunk in October 1941 Relations with Japan worsened in 1941 Japan continues Asian aggression July 1941—Roosevelt froze Japanese assets in U.S. and halts all American trade with Japan 7 December 1941—Japan attacks Pearl Harbor 4

Allied Strategy for Winning World War II Priority One: Safeguard Britain and United States Priority Two: Fight a decisive air offensive against the Axis powers in Europe and fight defensively in Asia Priority Three: Sustained air offensive against Japan after the Axis powers were defeated in Europe Use land forces when, and if, necessary I + II + III = Victory 5

First U.S. Offensive Action of WWII—North Africa First use of U.S. Ground forces against the Germans Provided valuable combat experience for ground and air forces Opportunity for British and United States to fight a combined arms campaign First defeat of the German forces since 1930 6

North Africa (cont’d) United States learned valuable lessons concerning the employment of airpower in tactical situations Initial problems experienced by the Allies Air units were split among ground units Ground commanders didn’t share aircraft Airpower used defensively Airpower employment fragmented and inflexible 7

North Africa (cont’d) Allied airpower reorganized in 1942 Command of the air forces went to Airmen The air officer decided the missions and allocated forces Missions became offensive in nature Flexibility of Allied airpower was restored and air superiority was attained Tactical missions followed and techniques refined Allies achieve victory in North Africa in May 1943 8

North Africa (cont’d) “Anyone who has to fight, even with the most modern weapons, against an enemy in complete command of the air, fights like a savage against modern European troops, under the same handicaps and with the same chances of success.” ~ Field Marshal Erwin Rommell 8

Davis Video

U.S. Strategic Bombing of Germany Heavily influenced by ACTS and bomber advocates Some felt strategic bombing alone would defeat Germany Others believed strategic bombing would weaken Germany and a ground invasion would be required for her surrender 9

U.S. Bombing Strategy United States committed to high-altitude, daylight precision bombing Believed heavy bombers, flying in formation, could fight their way to the target and back Fighter escorts not necessary Targets identified by AWPD-1 best hit in day time US strategy ignored weather conditions, target obstruction, fighter opposition, and antiaircraft artillery 10

Strategic Bombing of Germany—Early Efforts Strategic bombing of Europe was Eighth Air Force responsibility First raids were against marshaling yards in France—little effect Late 1942 and early 1943: Eighth AF attacked small targets in Europe—good experience, little effect 11

Strategic Bombing Becomes a Major Objective Casablanca Conference (January 1943) established strategic bombing as a major objective Destruction and dislocation of the German military, industrial, and economic system Undermining of morale of the German people German aircraft industry was the top priority target The ball bearing industry was a complementary target Destruction of enemy aircraft industry would help achieve Air Superiority 11

Strategic Bombing of Schweinfurt Germany Eighth AF bombs the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt in Summer 1943 August 1943—Eighth AF inflicts heavy damage but loses 36 B-17s and 360 crewmen October 1943—AAF loses 60 bombers and has 138 aircraft damaged and 600 men lost Losses were unacceptable No fighter escorts left bombers vulnerable to enemy fighters and antiaircraft artillery 12

Strategic Bombing of Ploesti August 1943—AAF launches attacks against oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania 178 aircraft launched—90 lost Raids were costly but needed to shorten the war Attacks were designed to reduce Germany’s oil and lubricant production Generally ineffective and deliveries increased until attacks were resumed in 1944 13

Strategic Bombing in Europe (cont’d) Long-range fighter escorts arrived in theater December 1943 Took significant toll on German aircraft and their experienced pilot force 8 AF resumed raids into Germany in February 1944 Launched a 1,000-plane raid by end of February 1944 Attacked Berlin in March 1944 German POL production was reduced to 25% capacity by September 1944 14

European Strategic Bombing: Lessons Learned Target list was not what it should have been Attacks on sub pens and ball bearing plants were ineffective Best targets were the POL production facilities and sources of electrical power Terror bombing of civilians was ineffective and did little to lower morale Bombers needed fighter escorts to and from the target 15

Pacific Theater in World War II “In our victory over Japan, airpower was unquestionably decisive. That the planned invasion of the Japanese Home islands was unnecessary is clear evidence that airpower has evolved into a force co-equal with land and sea power, decisive in its own right, and worthy of the faith of its prophets.” ~ General Carl A. Spaatz 1

Japanese Objectives Territorial expansion to reduce overcrowding at home and gain raw materials Fill the power vacuum in the Southwest Pacific created by German aggression in Europe Keep the US out of the war for two years with a knockout blow at Pearl Harbor Underestimated American resolve and anger Changed “2” to two. 3

Tunner Video

Allied Strategy to Defeat Japan China-Burma-India—Japan’s back door Campaign to re-supply troops in China and recapture Southeast Asia AAF flew the “hump”—Supply route over the Himalayas—A logistics triumph South Pacific Offensive—Island- hopping campaign led by General MacArthur Central Pacific Offensive—Island- hopping campaign led by Admiral Nimitz C-47 Skytrain 4

Tactical Airpower in the Pacific Far East Air Force (FEAF)—formed to support the South Pacific campaign Made up of the Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces Used innovative techniques, such as fragmentation bombs, to interdict enemy positions and troops Employed fighters and medium bombers; P-38 was a huge success Won air superiority through a war of attrition P-38 Lightning 5

Doolittle Video

Strategic Airpower in the Pacific 18 April 1942—First strategic raid Jimmy Doolittle led flight of 16 bombers from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet 600-mile flight did little damage, but boosted morale of US forces and shocked the Japanese Twentieth Air Force formed in 1944 specifically to bomb Japan Initial results were poor due to high altitude bombing techniques 6

LeMay Video

Strategic Airpower in the Pacific (cont’d) January 1945—General Arnold put Gen Curtis LeMay in charge of strategic bombing Changed tactics to use incendiary bombs Lowered bombing altitude to improve B-29s’ accuracy 9 March 1945—Launched first firebomb attack of Tokyo 279 B-29s participated Burned 16 square miles, destroyed 267,000 buildings, and killed 85,000 people 7

End of the War President Truman authorizes nuclear strikes against Japan 6 August 1945: Hiroshima bombed—70,000 killed 9 August 1945: Nagasaki bombed—40,000 killed Japan surrendered 15 August 1945 WWII ended formally with ceremonies on the USS Missouri on 2 September 1945 8

Evolution of Airpower So, what have we learned? What were significant airpower achievements and changes during this period? What was the impact of these achievements and changes?

China-India-Burma Hump North Africa Tactical Island hopping Key People Gen LeMay Tunner Spaatz Kenny Gen Arnold Key Events Tokyo fire bombing China-India-Burma Hump North Africa Tactical Island hopping Alaska flight and AAF Key Weapons B-29 Superfortress C-47, C-46 P40, B-25, P-51 P-38 B-10 Key Doctrinal Emphasis Strategic bombing Airlift Centralized Command, CAS, Interdiction

Summary Background—The 1920s General Mitchell’s Crusade The Air Corps Act of 1926 Air Corps Tactical School Move To Autonomy in the 1930s WWII Begins The Battle of Britain The United States Prepares for War The Army Air Forces

Summary (cont’d) The US Enters the Second World War America and its Allies Plan Strategy The United States on the Offensive US Strategic Bombing Effort Against Germany The Air War Against Japan Tactical Airpower in the Pacific Strategic Airpower in the Pacific The End of the Second World War Evolution of Airpower