The Lost Art of Air Superiority: U.S. Pursuit Aviation, 1919 to 1941 - Battle with the Bombers, Defending Pursuit, Preparation for War, World War II, P-40 Tommy Hawk, Major General Arnold, Air Corps

Nonfiction, History, Military, Aviation, World War II
Cover of the book The Lost Art of Air Superiority: U.S. Pursuit Aviation, 1919 to 1941 - Battle with the Bombers, Defending Pursuit, Preparation for War, World War II, P-40 Tommy Hawk, Major General Arnold, Air Corps 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: 9781310712418
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: April 16, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781310712418
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: April 16, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. This study examines the development of US pursuit aviation during the interwar period, 1919 to 1941. During this period, airmen struggled to develop a coherent airpower theory from their experiences in World War I. With only one war to base their theories upon, airmen based much of their developing theories upon speculation. In some ways their theories proved correct, in others, they missed the target. World War II tested their theories and quickly highlighted the shortcomings of interwar US airpower doctrine. Pursuit aviation was one branch of US airpower where airmen had missed the mark.

U.S. pursuit aviation entered World War II unready to compete with the other major powers. Its equipment was substandard, its pilots were not trained in the missions they would execute, and, most importantly, pursuit aviation lacked a coherent theory on gaining air superiority. why pursuit aviation fell short is a good question given that at the end of World War I, airmen considered pursuit the fundamental arm of the air force.

Pursuit's downfall was intertwined with the rise of the bomber. When airmen realized the awesome potential of strategic bombing, their focus, and the focus of the air Corps shifted from pursuit to bombardment. No longer was pursuit the fundamental arm of the air force, instead airmen recognized pursuit as a necessary supplement to bombardment. In the early 1930s, advances in bomber technology enabled bombers to outrange and out-pace concurrent fighters. This further degraded the role of pursuit, as airmen deemed pursuit no longer necessary for bombardment's success. Instead, the Air Corps relegated pursuit only to a defensive role against enemy bombardment. Pursuit maintained that role until the buildup for World War II. During the buildup, Air Corps leaders reevaluated the value of pursuit as they witnessed the air battles between major powers in Europe and the Pacific. They agreed that pursuit was more potent against bombardment than most had thought it would be. As such, pursuit began to recover and broaden its missions outside of defensive roles as the buildup continued.

Unfortunately, the recovery occurred too late for pursuit to recover fully before World War II. When the Japanese attacked, US fighter performance still lagged behind the performance of Japanese, British, and German fighters and its pilots were not ready to fly escort and ground attack missions. Most damaging, however, to us pursuit performance was an ingrained concept that pursuit was primarily a defensive force. That paradigm caused pursuit airmen and doctrine to ignore the fight for air superiority. Only through their experiences in World War II did pursuit pilots and air force leaders recognize the need for pursuit to gain air superiority by attacking offensively hostile pursuit. This was a lesson the airmen had learned during World War I but forgotten in the interwar years. Thus, this study is an examination of doctrine developed, lost, and then recovered.

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

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. This study examines the development of US pursuit aviation during the interwar period, 1919 to 1941. During this period, airmen struggled to develop a coherent airpower theory from their experiences in World War I. With only one war to base their theories upon, airmen based much of their developing theories upon speculation. In some ways their theories proved correct, in others, they missed the target. World War II tested their theories and quickly highlighted the shortcomings of interwar US airpower doctrine. Pursuit aviation was one branch of US airpower where airmen had missed the mark.

U.S. pursuit aviation entered World War II unready to compete with the other major powers. Its equipment was substandard, its pilots were not trained in the missions they would execute, and, most importantly, pursuit aviation lacked a coherent theory on gaining air superiority. why pursuit aviation fell short is a good question given that at the end of World War I, airmen considered pursuit the fundamental arm of the air force.

Pursuit's downfall was intertwined with the rise of the bomber. When airmen realized the awesome potential of strategic bombing, their focus, and the focus of the air Corps shifted from pursuit to bombardment. No longer was pursuit the fundamental arm of the air force, instead airmen recognized pursuit as a necessary supplement to bombardment. In the early 1930s, advances in bomber technology enabled bombers to outrange and out-pace concurrent fighters. This further degraded the role of pursuit, as airmen deemed pursuit no longer necessary for bombardment's success. Instead, the Air Corps relegated pursuit only to a defensive role against enemy bombardment. Pursuit maintained that role until the buildup for World War II. During the buildup, Air Corps leaders reevaluated the value of pursuit as they witnessed the air battles between major powers in Europe and the Pacific. They agreed that pursuit was more potent against bombardment than most had thought it would be. As such, pursuit began to recover and broaden its missions outside of defensive roles as the buildup continued.

Unfortunately, the recovery occurred too late for pursuit to recover fully before World War II. When the Japanese attacked, US fighter performance still lagged behind the performance of Japanese, British, and German fighters and its pilots were not ready to fly escort and ground attack missions. Most damaging, however, to us pursuit performance was an ingrained concept that pursuit was primarily a defensive force. That paradigm caused pursuit airmen and doctrine to ignore the fight for air superiority. Only through their experiences in World War II did pursuit pilots and air force leaders recognize the need for pursuit to gain air superiority by attacking offensively hostile pursuit. This was a lesson the airmen had learned during World War I but forgotten in the interwar years. Thus, this study is an examination of doctrine developed, lost, and then recovered.

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book History of the Air Corps Tactical School 1920 -1940: World War I, Langley Field, Maxwell Field, Air Corps Doctrinal Center, Precision Bombardment, Conflict with the War Department General Staff by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Hypopharyngeal Cancer - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians by Progressive Management
Cover of the book U.S. Army Medical Correspondence Course: Sterile Procedures (MD0540) - Communicable Diseases, Bloodborne Pathogens, Medical and Surgical Asepsis, Wound Care, Isolation, Prevention of Infection by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Innovative Practices for Special Warfare: Army Special Operations Forces, Collaboration, Structure, Incentives, Acceptance, Case Analyses of Google, Joint Special Operations Command, Silicon Valley by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Fair Share or Freeride: Burden Sharing in Post-Cold War NATO – Analysis Showing that Most Members Contribute Effectively to Funding and Military Operations, Study of Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Gender Integration on U.S. Navy Submarines: Views of the First Wave - Legislative Changes and Service Efforts, Officer Accessions, Enlisted Inclusion, Submarine Culture, Benefits, Treatment by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Celiac Disease Sourcebook: Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians, including Celiac Sprue, Gluten-sensitive Enteropathy, Nontropical Sprue, Gluten Intolerance by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Adapting Unconventional Warfare Doctrine to Cyberspace Operations: Examination of Hacktivist Based Insurgencies - Cyber Warfare Roles of Russia, China, Analysis of 2014 Hong Kong Umbrella Revolution by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service and Unit Operations (FM 9-15) UXO, EOD, Bomb Disposal (Value-Added Professional Format Series) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Joint Doctrine for Operations in Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Environments (Joint Publication 3-11) - Combat Operations, Health Service Support, Hazard Considerations by Progressive Management
Cover of the book American Armies and Battlefields in Europe: Authoritative History of American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, Great War - Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Champagne, Paris, Vosges Front by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Behcet's Disease Sourcebook: Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians - Diagnosis, Testing, Treatment, Drugs, Uveitis, Vasculitis and Related Autoimmune Diseases by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century IED and Roadside Bomb Encyclopedia: The Fight Against Improvised Explosive Devices in Afghanistan and Iraq, Plus the Convoy Survivability Training Guide by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Space Shuttle NASA Mission Reports: 1989 Missions, STS-29, STS-30, STS-28, STS-34, STS-33 by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Blending Science and Art: Cold War Lessons for Strategy Development in Postmodern War - Chaoplexic Warfare, Paradigms, Perceptions and Interpretation of Information (PPI), Rational Actor Model (RAM) 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