Airpower in World War II

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

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 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 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 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 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 United States prepares for War  Army Air Corps was expanded July Air Corps expands to 54 combat groups to include 14 heavy bomb groups March 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 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 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 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 Summary  Battle of Britain  Air War Plans Division Plan #1  Army Air Forces