1. Airpower in World War II

2. 2 World War II Overview  Three Part Block of Instruction Part 1 -- The US prepares for war, 1939-41 Part 2 -- Airpower in the European Theater Part 3 -- Airpower in the Pacific Theater

3. 3 US Prepares for War An Overview  German aggression leading to US involvement  The Battle of Britain and the German Luftwaffe  US preparations and the Air War Plans Division Plan #1  The forming of the Army Air Forces

4. 4 German Aggression Leading to US Involvement in WW II  Germany attacks Poland -- 1 Sep 39 The Luftwaffe was used to gain air superiority, cut supply lines and support ground forces  Germany then easily conquers Norway, Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands and France

5. 5 Battle of Britain  Britain stands alone against German aggression -- June 1940  Germany attacks in four phases Attacks against shipping lines Day and night bombing of RAF airfields Daytime bombing of the cities Nighttime bombing of the cities  Luftwaffe defeated

6. 6 Four Phases  Luftwaffe attacked British ship convoys in English Channel  Day and night bombing on RAF airfields  Daylight bombing of British cities  Nighttime bombing of British cities

7. 7 Reasons for Luftwaffe’s Defeat  Luftwaffe not trained or equipped to conduct strategic bombing  British had excellent command, control, and communication systems in place  Luftwaffe had poor intelligence capabilties

8. 8 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 48 combat groups to include 24 heavy bomb groups  Emphasis placed on bombers, not escort aircraft -- hurts US bombing efforts

9. 9 Air War Plans Division Plan # 1  Formulated in response to Roosevelt's call for American air doctrine  Established independent operating objectives for the Air Corps  Called for precision bombing of German industry and economy  Flawed because it did not provide for long- range fighter escort

10. 10 AWPD # 1 -- Target List  Emphasized the offensive nature of the mission.  Ground support missions were secondary  Four major targets were: Sources of electrical power Transportation systems Sources of oil production Aircraft industry

11. 11 Forming the Army Air Force (AAF)  Army Air Corps and GHQ Air Force merged in June 1941 to form AAF  Resulted from the decentralization of the War Department General Staff which was begun by General George Marshall in 1940  General Hap Arnold named commander  One step from full independence as a separate service

12. 12 Summary  Battle of Britain  Air War Plans Division Plan #1  Army Air Forces