1. Pacific Theater in World War II1

2. The Use of Airpower Against Japan: An Overview
Allied strategy to defeat Japan
Use of tactical airpower in the Pacific Theater
Use of strategic airpower in the Pacific Theater 2

3. The Air War Against Japan Japanese Objectives
Territorial expansion to reduce over-crowding at home and gain raw materials
Moved to fill the power vacuum in the Southwest Pacific created German aggression in Europe
Keep the US out of the war for 2 years with a knockout blow at Pearl Harbor
Underestimated American resolve and anger 3

4. Allied Strategy to Defeat Japan
China-Burma-India -- Japan’s back door
Campaign to resupply troops in China and recapture Southeast Asia
AAF flew the “hump” -- supply route over the Himalayas -- “A logistics triumph”
South Pacific Offensive -- Island hopping campaign led by General MacArthur
Central Pacific Offensive -- Island hopping campaign led by Admiral Nimitz 4

5. Tactical Airpower in the Pacific
Far East Air Force (FEAF) -- formed to support the South Pacific campaign
Made up of the 5th and 13th Air Forces
Used innovative techniques such as fragmentation bombs to interdict enemy positions and troops
Employed fighters and medium bombers,
P-38 was a huge success
Won air superiority through a war of attrition 5

6. Tactical Airpower in the Pacific
First strategic raid 18 Apr 1942
Jimmy Doolittle led flight of 16 bombers from the deck of the aircraft carrier, “Hornet”
600 mile flight, did little damage, but boosted morale of US forces and shocked the Japanese
20th Air Force was formed in 1944 specifically to bomb Japan
Initial results were poor due to high altitude bombing techniques 6

7. Tactical Airpower in the Pacific (Cont)
Jan General Arnold put Gen Curtis LeMay in charge of strategic bombing
Changed tactics to use incendiary bombs
Lowered bombing altitude to improve B-29s accuracy
Launched first firebomb attack of Tokyo on
9 Mar B-29s participated
-- Burned 16 sq miles, destroyed 267,000
buildings and killed 83,000 people 7

8. Strategic Airpower in the Pacific The End of the War
President Truman authorizes nuclear strikes against Japan
6 Aug Hiroshima bombed - 70,000 killed
9 Aug Nagasaki bombed - 40,000 killed
Japan surrendered 15 Aug 1945
WW II ended formally with ceremonies on the USS Missouri on 2 Sep 1945 8

9. Review of CFD Model
Competencies: 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

10. CFD Model Application Pre WWI: Post WWI: Competencies: Functions:
Doctrinal Emphasis:
Information Gathering
Reconnaissance
Artillery spotting, gathering military info for land forces
Limited attack; info gather
Counterattack; theater attack, reconnaissance
Theater attack of mil targets

11. CFD Model Application Pre WWII: Limited attack Information Gathering
Limited Air Superiority
Pre WWII:
Competencies:
Functions:
Doctrinal
Emphasis:
Reconnaissance
Counterair
Strategic Attack
Airlift
Strategic attack on the enemy homeland (enemy war machine)

12. CFD Model Application Limited attack Information Gathering Post WWII:
Air Superiority
Limited Agility Combat Support
Post WWII:
Competencies:
Functions:
Doctrinal Emphasis:
Counter land
Counter sea
SAR
Special Ops
Reconnaissance
Counterair
Strategic Attack
Airlift
Strategic attack