A Need to Know: The Role of Air Force Reconnaissance in War Planning, 1945-1953 - Radar Principles, World War I and II, Korean War

Nonfiction, History, Military, Aviation, World War II
Cover of the book A Need to Know: The Role of Air Force Reconnaissance in War Planning, 1945-1953 - Radar Principles, World War I and II, Korean War by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781476297798
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: July 5, 2012
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781476297798
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: July 5, 2012
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

More than a tool of policy makers to gather intelligence, Air Force reconnaissance efforts shaped early Cold War doctrine and war planning. Dr. Farquhar argues that a lack of information on Soviet strategic capabilities dominated the organization, operational planning, and equipment of the postwar Air Force. To support his assertion, Farquhar traces the development of aerial reconnaissance from the first balloon ascents through World War II as a prelude. He then examines early Cold War peripheral reconnaissance and overflights of the Soviet Union. He explains the evolution of intelligence-gathering technology, bureaucratic growth, and a relative lack of attention paid to electronic warfare before the Korean War. Based primarily on archival sources, the book serves as an excellent reference for air doctrine, intelligence, and electronic warfare in the formative years of the Cold War.

At first glance, strategic aerial reconnaissance appears to be a mere technical tool. The term refers to the use of aircraft to collect strategic intelligence using photographic or electronic means. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), strategic intelligence refers to "intelligence that is required for the formation of policy and military plans at national and international lev-els."2 Strategic intelligence includes information provided by sources other than aircraft, including naval vessels, ground communications intercept sites, satellites, published literature, defectors, and spies. Because Air Force aircraft provided the bulk of information used by American war plans from 1945 to 1953, this book focuses on the origins of the USAF strategic aerial reconnaissance.3 Although official JCS publications did not specifically list strategic aerial reconnaissance, the term may be defined as the use of aircraft to gather information necessary to conduct strategic air war, also called strategic air bombardment. At the core of the topic, recently declassified JCS emergency war plans indicate that a strategic air bombardment campaign formed the heart of American military strategy from the end of World War II to the Korean conflict. A study of strategic aerial reconnaissance illuminates the link between intelligence and strategy and between military capability and doctrine. Finally, a focus upon strategic aerial reconnaissance raises questions of ends and means: did reconnaissance aircraft merely serve as a tool of war planners or did strategic reconnaissance actually shape military strategy?

Contents * Introduction * Notes * Chapter 1 * THE ORIGINS OF STRATEGIC AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE * Notes * Chapter 2 * GROPING IN THE DARK: RECONNAISSANCE BEFORE CONTAINMENT, 1945-1946 * Notes * Chapter 3 * FROM CONTAINMENT TO BERLIN: ORGANIZATIONAL STEPS to fill INTELLIGENCE GAPS, 1947-1948 * Notes * Chapter 4 * STRATEGIC BOMBING QUESTIONED: INTELLIGENCE SHORTFALLS AND WAR PLANS, 1949-1950 * Notes * Chapter 5 * THE TEST: STRATEGIC RECONNAISSANCE IN KOREA, 1950-1953 * Notes * Chapter 6 * CONCLUSION * Notes * APPENDIX A * Radar Principles * APPENDIX B * Definitions and Terms

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

More than a tool of policy makers to gather intelligence, Air Force reconnaissance efforts shaped early Cold War doctrine and war planning. Dr. Farquhar argues that a lack of information on Soviet strategic capabilities dominated the organization, operational planning, and equipment of the postwar Air Force. To support his assertion, Farquhar traces the development of aerial reconnaissance from the first balloon ascents through World War II as a prelude. He then examines early Cold War peripheral reconnaissance and overflights of the Soviet Union. He explains the evolution of intelligence-gathering technology, bureaucratic growth, and a relative lack of attention paid to electronic warfare before the Korean War. Based primarily on archival sources, the book serves as an excellent reference for air doctrine, intelligence, and electronic warfare in the formative years of the Cold War.

At first glance, strategic aerial reconnaissance appears to be a mere technical tool. The term refers to the use of aircraft to collect strategic intelligence using photographic or electronic means. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), strategic intelligence refers to "intelligence that is required for the formation of policy and military plans at national and international lev-els."2 Strategic intelligence includes information provided by sources other than aircraft, including naval vessels, ground communications intercept sites, satellites, published literature, defectors, and spies. Because Air Force aircraft provided the bulk of information used by American war plans from 1945 to 1953, this book focuses on the origins of the USAF strategic aerial reconnaissance.3 Although official JCS publications did not specifically list strategic aerial reconnaissance, the term may be defined as the use of aircraft to gather information necessary to conduct strategic air war, also called strategic air bombardment. At the core of the topic, recently declassified JCS emergency war plans indicate that a strategic air bombardment campaign formed the heart of American military strategy from the end of World War II to the Korean conflict. A study of strategic aerial reconnaissance illuminates the link between intelligence and strategy and between military capability and doctrine. Finally, a focus upon strategic aerial reconnaissance raises questions of ends and means: did reconnaissance aircraft merely serve as a tool of war planners or did strategic reconnaissance actually shape military strategy?

Contents * Introduction * Notes * Chapter 1 * THE ORIGINS OF STRATEGIC AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE * Notes * Chapter 2 * GROPING IN THE DARK: RECONNAISSANCE BEFORE CONTAINMENT, 1945-1946 * Notes * Chapter 3 * FROM CONTAINMENT TO BERLIN: ORGANIZATIONAL STEPS to fill INTELLIGENCE GAPS, 1947-1948 * Notes * Chapter 4 * STRATEGIC BOMBING QUESTIONED: INTELLIGENCE SHORTFALLS AND WAR PLANS, 1949-1950 * Notes * Chapter 5 * THE TEST: STRATEGIC RECONNAISSANCE IN KOREA, 1950-1953 * Notes * Chapter 6 * CONCLUSION * Notes * APPENDIX A * Radar Principles * APPENDIX B * Definitions and Terms

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book Whither Space Power? Forging a Strategy for the New Century: Future Space Warfare Scenarios and Options for Space Security by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Center of Gravity (COG) Systemically Understood - Clausewitz and Systems Thinking, Napoleon, Battles of Granicus, Issus, and Gaugamela, Jena-Auerstadt 1806, Vietnam War (Cambodia), Desert Storm by Progressive Management
Cover of the book A European Identity: Too Much to Hope For? Far-Right Populist Parties, British UKIP and German AfD Parties, Potential for Catastrophic European Union (EU) Failure and Issues for U.S. Security by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Army Cyber Mission Force: Ambitions and Realities: Recruiting, Retaining, and Organizing Personnel, Getting the Best and the Brightest, Need to Depart from Standard Army Personnel Practices by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Historical Overview of Racism in the Military: Colonial Period, American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, Indian Campaigns, Spanish-American, World War I and II, Korean, Vietnam, Contemporary by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Changing Course: Preventing Gang Membership - Juvenile Crime, Youth Violence, Delinquency, Substance Abuse, Public Health Interventions, Homeboys, Girls and Gangs, Race and Ethnicity, Poverty by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Memories of the Golden Age of American Space Flight (Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab) - Oral Histories of Managers, Engineers, and Workers (Set 3) - Including Maynard, George Mueller, Warren North by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: Military Police Operations Field Manual - FM 3-19.1, FM 19-1 (Value-Added Professional Format Series) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 2011 Mideast Uprisings: Country Background Information on Libya and Gaddafi, Egypt, and Bahrain - Authoritative Coverage of Government, Military, Human Rights, History by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Partners in Freedom: Contributions of the Langley Research Center to U. S. Military Aircraft of the 1990s - Harrier, C-17, F/A-18, A-10, F-111, A-6, EA-6B, F-14, X-29, C-130, F-16, F-22, F-15, B-2 by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Effective Operational Deception: Learning the Lessons of Midway and Desert Storm - World War II and the Persian Gulf War, Japanese Deception Plan Failed to Incorporate Economy of Force Principle by Progressive Management
Cover of the book United States Air Force (USAF) AU-2 Guidelines for Command - A Handbook on the Leadership of Airmen for Air Force Squadron Commanders, Expeditionary Forces, Discipline by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Black Magic and Gremlins: Analog Flight Simulations at NASA's Flight Research Center (NASA SP-2000-4520), X-15 Simulator, Lifting Body Simulation, Short Take-off and Landing, Boost Vehicles by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Central Intelligence: Origin and Evolution and U.S. Intelligence Community Reform Studies Since 1947 - Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Reports by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders - Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Polycythemia Vera, Myelofibrosis, Thrombocythemia, Neutrophilic Leukemia by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy