Evolution of Airpower Essay

In 1921, Admiral William A. Moffett established the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) with the help of Congress. Under the enthusiastic and energetic leadership of Admiral Moffett, naval aviation was institutionalized to provide the Untied States with preparation for World War II (Hagan and McMaster 191). The BuAer was a technological step forward into modern times. Not only did the BuAer establish a bureau that oversaw naval advancements and preparations for future wars, but it developed a sense of responsibility among naval aviators. As the BuAer expanded and became a vitally renowned function in the Untied States, technology, operations, budgets, and strategies all improved. In the novel In Peace and War, where interpretations of American Naval

Curtis LeMay: Curtis LeMay was a U.S. Air Force General during WWII, who pioneered routs from North America to Africa and England, developed new formation procedures and bombing techniques for B-17 bombers in the Western Theatre, and led the Regensburg raid deep mover Germany (8). He was transferred to the Pacific front in July of 1944, where he ascended to the position of chief of staff of the Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (8). At the conclusion of the war he set a new flight record by piloting a B-29 from Hokkaido, Japan, to Chicago, non-stop (8). He was significant to the war because of his involvement and leadership of the U.S. Air Force, as air supremacy came to be a major factor in which side would win the

As aircraft evolved during the First World War, some of the best “Aces” were emerging in the sky. Captain Edward Rickenbacker and Lt Frank Luke Jr, both recipients of the Medal of Honor, made significant contributions to the American war effort. Although Lt Luke, the “Arizona Balloon Buster,” is commended for his valiant sacrifice, I believe Captain Rickenbacker made the more valuable contribution during World War 1, by exemplifying better leadership, professionalism, and intellectual power as an American air warrior. Lt Luke was an outstanding young ace pilot, but his arrogance and disobedient actions may have affected him malignantly during World War 1.

In chapter eight of Sherry’s novel “The Rise of American Air Power.” Sherry writes about the obsession war generals had with air warfare during the 20th century. He brings up the time Roosevelt decided to use atomic bombs in World War II against Japan and how he wanted to drop these bombs over Japan by aircraft carrier. The technological aspect behind this mission is complicated and made Roosevelt ‘fantasize’ about becoming more advanced in technological warfare. However, some of these improvements left others up in arms, the use of telegraphs left war generals upset about how they were always being interrupted by their superiors during missions. Another advancement that led soldiers up in arms was the operational commands. Operational Commands were in charge of running the airways and pilots would always complain about how they would interfere air battles and cause a distraction. However, Operational Commands had their perks like the use of radar to detect any

The First World War was monumental in history because of all the new technology that was introduced. One particular area that developed during the Great War was the use of airplanes by the German and Allied militaries. In comparison, they both had different mentalities towards an invention that was only made successful less than a decade before the outbreak of war in 1914 by the Wright Brothers in North Carolina, United States. The German Military welcomed the idea with open arms, investing in its potential for military uses, whereas the Allies remained reserved and hesitant, claiming that aircraft could not be used for anything more offensive than reconnaissance missions. These differences in opinions later affected the development of each air force. The German military kept making monthly improvements to their equipment whereas the allied pilots were slow in their respective air forces evolution. However, there was a common progression that both militaries had which was the slow phasing out of the cavalry on either side due to the effectiveness of the aircrafts reconnaissance capabilities. During the World War One, the German military took advantage of the new technology available to them, which gave significant results, whereas the Allies had a more traditional mindset for the beginning of the conflict.

In World War Two (WWII) air combat was a commonly used war tactic. Many countries in WWII had an Air Force. The Air Forces usually consisted of bombers and fighters. The United States who entered the war after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor had a particularly large Air Force. The U.S. Air Force Had several groups but a major Air Force group was the Eighth Air Force. The Eighth Air Force’s role in WWII was essential to the defeat of Hitler’s Nazi rule by bombardment of strategic targets in Europe. Wich was done successfully after we dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan.

The Air Force became one of the most important parts of the military during WWII. Whoever had control of the air, often won the battle on the

When the surprise attack on Hawaii took place, the development of the Army Air Forces oversaw the assembly of the nation's aviation manufactury and establishment of the largest air armada of all time. By this time, the Army Air Forces was the strongest they had ever been with 80,000 aircraft and 2.4 million personnel divided into different commands, divisions, and groups. But after the conclusion of WWI, the US demobilized it's armed forces right away. (Missions)

Künstler, Mort, and James I. Robertson. World War II: 1939-1945. New York: Abbeville Kids, a division of Abbeville Press,

If Mark and Todd choose this option, they could budget accordingly each month. If they are struggling they could forgo the additional principal payment during any given month. By choosing this option, S & S Air could save money and have flexibility in the mortgage payments.

"The British Common Wealth Air Training Plan." friends-amis. Ed. Julia Beingessner. Friends of the Canadian War Museum, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2015. <https://www.friends-amis.org/index.php/en/document-repository/english/research-papers/8-the-british-commonwealth-air-training-plan/file>.

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If World War I served as airpower’s infancy, then the developments and adaptations made during World War II were airpower’s awkward teenage years. The lessons learned during WWI and WWII laid the foundation for the newest domain of warfare to mature from. Through the inter-war period all major belligerents developed doctrine on how to employ airpower in the “next” war, over land and sea. It is my belief that the United States was the best, out of all belligerents, at adapting its airpower throughout World War II (WWII) and did so while fighting in two separate theatres. Three adaptations I believe best highlight the adaptability of America’s airpower are the strategic bombing changes regarding Japan, the addition of drop tanks on fighters and close air support.

Prior to the Sarah Bonnifield Vietnam Scholarship opportunity, I had never researched or been educated on the unique importance of the Air Force in the Vietnam War. However, as I looked into it, I became increasingly interested in and aware of the incredible significance the USAF played throughout the duration of the war. The Air Force used novel strategies and adopted several new roles in during Vietnam that had never been used in previous wars or conflicts. In addition to these tactics, new technology and weapons emerged during this time period that changed the way that the Air Force would be utilized in conflicts and wars from that point on.

The concept of airpower and its effectiveness against the enemy’s fielded military forces is well documented in a number of literatures. In the history of American military, airpower has been considered not only as the sharpest military sword but also a highly versatile set of tools used to effectively promote national strategy. Airpower’s effectiveness in support of national strategy has significantly improved since 1945. The study of airpower exposed certain consistencies which have affected its effectiveness. The theory and practice of airpower filled the past century with frequently persuasive victories coupled with a historical documentation packed with arguable failures. It is important to note that the effectiveness of airpower, as a military operational strategy, has triggered a debate among proponents and non-proponents. Some airpower theorists have debated its effectiveness. Throughout history, the many claims about airpower’s decisiveness to independently win wars or conflicts have hindered the notional and real application of this instrument of power. This essay highlights factors which consider the scope of the strengths and limitations of airpower that has been and will continue to be effective throughout the 21st century.