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Airpower Through WW I
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Mitchell Video
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Time Period
DistinctiveCapabilities
Functions(missions)
Doctrinal Emphasis
Pre- WW I Information Superiority
Surveillance & Reconnaissance Artillery SpottingGathering MilitaryInfo to support landforces
CFD Model
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World War I—Missions
• Reconnaissance – Collecting visual and photographic information
• Counterair – Air-to-air combat• Close Air Support – Support of ground
forces• Interdiction – Striking enemy resources
close to the battlefield • Strategic Bombing – Strikes deep into
enemy territory to destroy war making capabilities
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World War I—Missions
• Reconnaissance – Collecting visual and photographic information-- What was the overall attitude regarding aviators?-- Why was Germany successful at Tannenberg?-- How did France turn the tide of war?
• Counterair – Air-to-air combat-- Who was Roland Garros? How did he change the war?-- Why arm the planes?-- What was Anthony Fokker’s contribution?-- What was the Allies’ response?
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• Roland Garros (French): Developed metal strips for propellers so machine gun bullets would not shatter the props– First WWI pilot to shoot
down an enemy plane by firing through propeller blades
Technological Developments
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• Anthony Fokker (Dutch): Designed synchronizing gear so bullets would pass through the spinning propeller blades
Technological Developments
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• Nieuports and Spads (French): Most reliable and flexible aircraft in 1916
• Fokker Triplanes: German aircraft that put the Germans back on top in 1917
Technological Developments
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American Participation in WWI
• When United States. entered the war in April 1917, US Air Service was totally unprepared – Aviation Section had 56 pilots and less than 250
airplanes; none ready for combat
• Congress approved $640 million in July 1917 to raise 354 combat squadrons
• At the end of WWI, Air Service had 183,000 personnel and 185 squadrons
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World War I—Missions
• Close Air Support – Support of ground forces
• Interdiction – Striking enemy resources close to the battlefield
• Strategic Bombing – Strikes deep into enemy territory to destroy war making capabilities
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Strategic Bombing in WWI
• Limited in scope and intensity• Had a negligible outcome on
the war• Laid the foundation for future
thought
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Bombing of Britain
• Germans conducted daylight bombing raids against Britain using Zeppelins—1915-16– Stopped because of poor results
• Germans reinitiated daylight raids using Gotha bombers in 1917 – ineffective
• Germans begin night bombing using Zeppelins and Reisen bombers—1917-18—Primarily terror raids
• Strengthened British morale; destroyed little war making capacity
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• Began in 1914; generally ineffective
• British bombed German cities and airfields in retaliation for German strikes
• Allies created the Inter-Allied Independent Air Force (IAIAF) in 1919 for the purpose of bombing Germany.– War ended before the IAIAF
was used
British Handley Page Bomber
Allied Bombing of Germany
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Strategic Bombing Theorists
• Sir Hugh Trenchard
• Giulio Douhet
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• Commander of the Royal Air Force• Primary target should be civilian morale• Believed allies should attack German
homeland• Attack around the clock
Sir Hugh Trenchard
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• General in the Italian Army• Believed airpower was supreme
after WWI• Believed bombers would win all
wars• Air weapon would be used
against ports, railroads and economic structures
• Best way to gain air superiority was to destroy the enemy’s ground organization
Giulio Douhet
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• Once air superiority was achieved, bombers would concentrate on cities to destroy industry and morale
• Influenced by Italian geography where there was little threat of a ground invasion
• His doctrine led to a total war concept—war on the nation as a whole, not just military forces
Giulio Douhet (cont’d)
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Review of CFD Model
• Distinctive Capabilities: Air and space expertise, capabilities, and technological know-how that produces superior military capabilities
• Functions: Broad, fundamental and continuing activities of air and space power
• Doctrine: Fundamental principles which military forces guide their actions in support of national objectives
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Time Period
DistinctiveCapabilities
Functions(missions)
Doctrinal Emphasis
Pre- WW I Information Superiority
Surveillance & Reconnaissance Artillery SpottingGathering MilitaryInfo to support landforces
Post WW I Information SuperiorityPrecision Engagement
Surveillance & ReconnaissanceCounter AirStrategic attack
Strategic attack, of military targets
Review of CFD Model