The Interwar Years

2 Interwar Years Background  Following WW I, US returned to isolationism  Civilian aviation boomed, military budgets were cut  Air service sought to develop an air doctrine  Period marked by organizational change and personality clashes  Few airmen saw the potential of the airplane

3 Interwar Years General William “Billy” Mitchell  Director of Military Aviation in 1919  Believed the airplane would change the defense establishment  Believed the air service was an offensive force equal to the Army and Navy  Views were strongly opposed by the Army and Navy

4 Billy Mitchell (Cont)  A visionary, fanatic and prophet  Alienated many due to constant attacks and need for 100% support  Technology was not capable of meeting his expectations -- cost him credibility  Feuded extensively with the Navy -- Claimed the battleship was obsolete His planes bombed and sunk 3 ships Infuriated the Navy leadership

5 Mitchell’s Last Campaign  Mitchell concentrated on developing doctrine advocated strategic bombardment  Demoted to Colonel because of his unrelenting bid for a separate air force  After the crash of the dirigible, “Shenandoah,” he accused military leaders of “incompetence and criminal negligence”  Court-martial -- October 25, 1925

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

7 Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS) Origins  Founded in 1920 at Langley AFB VA  Moved to Maxwell AFB AL in 1931  Original mission was to teach air strategy and tactics  Changed to developing and teaching air doctrine (principles and philosophy)

8 Air Corps Tactical School Teachings  Future wars would be decided by airpower  Airplane would be the primary offensive weapon  High-altitude strategic daylight bombing could paralyze and defeat an industrialized enemy without heavy losses

9 Air Corps Tactical School  Preoccupation with bombers and their missions overwhelmed other teachings Claire Chennault, who led the Flying Tigers in WW II, taught pursuit aviation -- advocated escorting bombers and strafing enemy rear areas George Kenney, who commanded the Pacific Air Force in WW II, taught attack aviation -- strafing attacks on enemy troops and behind enemy lines

10 Organizational Change  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

11 Interwar Years Organizational Change  General Headquarters Air Force Placed all tactical units under the Commander, GHQ Recognition of an independent aviation branch within the Army

12 Summary  At conclusion of WWI... Mood of the country: Isolationism Military emphasis decreased / budgets cut  Billy Mitchell’s contribution to autonomy … Convinced airplanes would change how war fought Believed Air Service was an offensive force on same level as Navy and Army Lobbied Army ground officers / Congress for separate Air Service

13 Summary (cont)  Air Corps Tactical School … Mission: Teach air strategy and tactics (initially) Evolved to development / teaching air doctrine Theories professed: Air Service should be equal to Navy and Army Future wars decided by airpower Bombers key to defeat enemy without heavy losses

14 Summary (cont)  Significance of Army Reorg Act of 1920 Air Service part of combat mission of the Army Gained considerable autonomy  Significance of Air Corps Act of 1926 Renamed “Air Service” to “Air Corps,” implying independent ops capability Began 5-yr expansion plan for personnel / acft  Significance of General HQ AF (1935) all tactical units under Commander, GHQ Recognized independent aviation branch within the Army