The development of air doctrine in the Army air arm, 1917-1941

Front......Page 1
Foreword......Page 3
Contents......Page 6
Introduction......Page 7
I. The Air Service in World War I, 1917-1918......Page 9
Prewar Organization and Concepts......Page 5
General concepts of warfare and air employment......Page 11
Over-all air operations, organization, and control......Page 12
Pursuit aviation......Page 15
Bombardment aviation......Page 17
Air plans during the armistice......Page 20
The War Department view......Page 22
Views of Air Service leaders......Page 23
Demands for complete separation......Page 28
Arguments of the air crusaders......Page 29
Rebuttal by the high command......Page 30
Creation of the Army Air Corps (1926)......Page 33
The general functions of military aviation......Page 38
Argument with the Navy regarding coast defense......Page 41
Pursuit aviation......Page 44
Bombardment aviation......Page 46
Attack aviation......Page 47
Comparative summary of doctrines in 1926......Page 48
Efforts to stimulate improved aircraft design......Page 52
Successful development of two-engine bombers: the B-9 and B-10......Page 53
The B-17 \"Flying Fortress\"......Page 54
Trend of Documentation at the Air Corps Tactical School......Page 55
Concepts of the nature of war: influence of Mitchell and Douhet......Page 56
The employment of airpower......Page 60
Bombardment aviation; the precision doctrine and the escort problem......Page 65
Pursuit aviation......Page 68
Attack aviation......Page 74
The Impasse with the Navy Regarding Land-based Bombardment......Page 75
Establishment of the GHQ Air Force (1935)......Page 78
Hemisphere Defense Policy as a Factor in Strategic Concepts and Air Doctrine......Page 84
The nature of war and the employment of airpower......Page 85
Bombardment aviation......Page 88
Pursuit aviation......Page 91
Attack aviation......Page 95
Bomber program related to coast defense......Page 97
Andrews presses for exclusive procurement of four-engine bombers......Page 99
Air Corps demands for unlimited development of the bomber......Page 101
The General Staff blocks the way......Page 102
President Roosevelt removes the block......Page 108
The Influence of Foreign Wars upon American Air Doctrine......Page 109
Spain......Page 110
Adjustments in Air Organization......Page 111
General Influence of the European War upon the Theory and Position of Airpower......Page 115
Tactical Lessons from the Air War Abroad......Page 116
Purpose and nature of warfare......Page 118
The role and employment of airpower in war......Page 119
Bombardment aviation......Page 123
Pursuit aviation......Page 128
Attack and light bombardment aviation......Page 129
Blueprint for action: AWPD/1......Page 131
Establishment of Army Air Forces (1941)......Page 134
VI. Conclusions......Page 136
Footnotes......Page 139
Bibliographical Note......Page 150
1. Organizational Charts......Page 152
2. Redesignations of the Army Air Arm, 1907-1942......Page 157
Index......Page 159