Fifth Air Force Light and Medium Bomber Operations During 1942 and 1943: Building Doctrine and Forces that Triumphed in the World War II Battle of the Bismarck Sea and the Wewak Raid, Skip-Bombing

Nonfiction, History, Military, Aviation, World War II
Cover of the book Fifth Air Force Light and Medium Bomber Operations During 1942 and 1943: Building Doctrine and Forces that Triumphed in the World War II Battle of the Bismarck Sea and the Wewak Raid, Skip-Bombing 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: 9781370570515
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: September 23, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781370570515
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: September 23, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

This important report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. When Generals George C. Kenney and Ennis C. Whitehead became the two senior commanders of the US Fifth Air Force in July 1942 their work was cut out for them. The previous January, the Japanese secured the port of Rabaul in eastern New Britain. They immediately began the drive down the east coast of New Guinea with the objective of driving the Allies from Port Moresby. For the next year and a half, in some the harshest climate of World War II, the Fifth Air Force helped to reverse the tide and drive the Japanese from eastern New Guinea. This was accomplished despite the Europe-first policy and an inappropriate doctrine based on high altitude, daylight, precision bombing.
Kenney and Whitehead's first task was to modify existing aircraft and develop a suitable doctrine to interdict Japanese shipping between New Britain and New Guinea. In order to suppress ship-borne antiaircraft artillery, forward-firing machine guns were mounted in the nose of Douglas A-20 light bombers and North American B-25 medium bombers. Low altitude skip-bombing tactics were borrowed from the British and perfected by constant practice and refinement.
By February 1943, Allied intelligence, greatly aided by ULTRA intercepts, predicted the movement of a Japanese convoy destined for New Guinea. Kenney and Whitehead were determined to destroy the convoy with their recently modified commerce destroyer fleet and focused all their energies on doing so. A dress rehearsal featuring the Fifth Air Force light and medium bombers as the main striking force was conducted in the Port Moresby Harbor. On March 3rd after being hit twice by mass, coordinated attacks, the convoy was virtually wiped out in what became known as the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
That same fleet of light and medium bombers also proved deadly against enemy airfields. Aircraft combat range was extended and modifications were made to the bomb bays to accept parachute fragmentation bombs. Airfield attack profiles were developed and once again, ULTRA provided a suitable target. In preparation for the anticipated Allied ground invasion of the Huon Peninsula, the Japanese moved the 4th Air Army to their four bases near Wewak. Beginning on August 17th, in a carefully- planned attack, Fifth Air Force bombers caught the enemy on the ground. By August 21st, nearly every aircraft at Wewak was destroyed. The subsequent Allied invasion was carried out virtually unopposed from the air.
Fifth Air Force light and medium bomber operations during 1942 and 1943 are textbook examples of doctrinal flexibility and extraordinary innovation. The unprecedented success of both the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and the Wewak Raid illustrate how airpower became the dominant force in the Southwest Pacific.

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

This important report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. When Generals George C. Kenney and Ennis C. Whitehead became the two senior commanders of the US Fifth Air Force in July 1942 their work was cut out for them. The previous January, the Japanese secured the port of Rabaul in eastern New Britain. They immediately began the drive down the east coast of New Guinea with the objective of driving the Allies from Port Moresby. For the next year and a half, in some the harshest climate of World War II, the Fifth Air Force helped to reverse the tide and drive the Japanese from eastern New Guinea. This was accomplished despite the Europe-first policy and an inappropriate doctrine based on high altitude, daylight, precision bombing.
Kenney and Whitehead's first task was to modify existing aircraft and develop a suitable doctrine to interdict Japanese shipping between New Britain and New Guinea. In order to suppress ship-borne antiaircraft artillery, forward-firing machine guns were mounted in the nose of Douglas A-20 light bombers and North American B-25 medium bombers. Low altitude skip-bombing tactics were borrowed from the British and perfected by constant practice and refinement.
By February 1943, Allied intelligence, greatly aided by ULTRA intercepts, predicted the movement of a Japanese convoy destined for New Guinea. Kenney and Whitehead were determined to destroy the convoy with their recently modified commerce destroyer fleet and focused all their energies on doing so. A dress rehearsal featuring the Fifth Air Force light and medium bombers as the main striking force was conducted in the Port Moresby Harbor. On March 3rd after being hit twice by mass, coordinated attacks, the convoy was virtually wiped out in what became known as the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
That same fleet of light and medium bombers also proved deadly against enemy airfields. Aircraft combat range was extended and modifications were made to the bomb bays to accept parachute fragmentation bombs. Airfield attack profiles were developed and once again, ULTRA provided a suitable target. In preparation for the anticipated Allied ground invasion of the Huon Peninsula, the Japanese moved the 4th Air Army to their four bases near Wewak. Beginning on August 17th, in a carefully- planned attack, Fifth Air Force bombers caught the enemy on the ground. By August 21st, nearly every aircraft at Wewak was destroyed. The subsequent Allied invasion was carried out virtually unopposed from the air.
Fifth Air Force light and medium bomber operations during 1942 and 1943 are textbook examples of doctrinal flexibility and extraordinary innovation. The unprecedented success of both the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and the Wewak Raid illustrate how airpower became the dominant force in the Southwest Pacific.

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book NASA Space Technology Report: Lunar and Planetary Bases, Habitats, and Colonies, Special Bibliography Including Mars Settlements, Materials, Life Support, Logistics, Robotic Systems by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Forging the Sword: Developing Leaders for the Air Operations Center - Evolution of Airpower Command and Control Concepts, AOC Leadership Development, Developing Airpower Leaders by Progressive Management
Cover of the book U.S. Strategic Communications Against Islamic Fundamentalists: Terrorism, Radicalization, Hard versus Soft Power, Cold War, Vietnam, Iraq, Jihadi Root Causes, Islamic State, ISIS, al-Qaeda, PSYOPS by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Complete Guide to al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda, Mujahideen Youth Movement (MYM), Terrorism in East Africa, Somalia, Mall Attack in Nairobi, Kenya, Transnational Terrorist Threat by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Special Operations Forces Interagency Counterterrorism Reference Manual: Comprehensive Guide to U.S. and Other Agencies, Organizations, and Programs including NGOs, Overseas, and Private Groups by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Building Corbett's Navy: The Principles of Maritime Strategy and the Functions of the Navy in Naval Policy, Sir Julian Corbett, Admiral Mahan, Stansfield Turner, Leverage of Sea Power, Navy Functions by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Islamic Groups' Social Service Provision and Attitudinal Change in Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood, al-Gamiyya al-Shariyya, Provisions under Nasser, Sadat, Mubarak, Violence, Sectarianism by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Challenging the United States Symmetrically and Asymmetrically: Can America be Defeated? Technology, Myth of Blitzkrieg, Terrorism by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Effects of Fire on Flora (Rainbow Series) - Wildfires and Ecosystems, Fire Regime Classification, Autecological Effects of Fire, Climate Change, Postfire Plant Community by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Air Policing: Case Studies of Employment and Evolution of British Air Policing from 1919 to 1934, Inverted Blockade, Third Afghan War, Somaliland, Mesopotamia, Aden, Comparison to Iraq COIN by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Al-Qaida, the Tribes, and the Government: Lessons and Prospects for Iraq's Unstable Triangle, Middle East Studies Paper, al-Qaeda, the Awakening by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Complete Guide to the U.S. Army Signal Corps: Comprehensive Histories, Getting the Message Through from the Civil War to Today, World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, Advanced Training, Strategic Vision by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Marines in the Korean War Commemorative Series: Stalemate, U.S. Marines from Bunker Hill to the Hook, 1st Marine Division, Imjin River, Kimpo Peninsula, Medal of Honor Winners, General Selden by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Apollo and America's Moon Landing Program: Saturn V Flight Manual: Astronaut's Guide to the Apollo Moon Rocket, plus Flight Safety Plan and Review of Pogo Problems (Part 2) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: Veterinary Service Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures Field Manual - FM 8-10-18 (Value-Added Professional Format Series) 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