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Airpower Through WW I Airpower Through WW I

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Airpower!!Airpower!!

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Airpower Through WWIAirpower Through WWI Define Air and Space Power Competencies Distinctive Capabilities Functions Air and Space Doctrine Principles of War Tenets of Air and Space Power

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Airpower Through WWIAirpower Through WWI Lighter-than-air vehicles Potential of the airplane Heavier-than-air vehicles Early Uses of Airpower Airpower in WWI The Battle of Air Supremacy American Participation in WWI

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Airpower Through WWIAirpower Through WWI Close Air Support and Interdiction in

WWI Development of Tactics in WWI Strategic Bombing Theorists Lt Col Edgar S. Gorrell (American)

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Air and Space PowerAir and Space Power The synergistic application of air, space, and

information systems to project global strategic military power.

AFDD 1

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Air and Space PowerAir and Space Power Synergistic

application

Air, Space, and Information Systems

To project global strategic military power

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Core CompetenciesCore Competencies Fundamental qualities that enable the

Air Force to develop and deliver air and space power

(1.) Developing Airmen

(2.) Technology-to-warfighting

(3.) Integrating Operations

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Distinctive Capabilities Distinctive Capabilities • Capabilities that the Air Force does

better than any other service.

• Air and Space Superiority• Information Superiority• Global Attack• Precision Engagement• Rapid Global Mobility • Agile Combat Support

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FunctionsFunctions Functions = Missions Broad, fundamental, and continuing activities

of air and space power not unique to the Air Force

Strategic AttackCounterairCounterspaceCounterlandCounterseaInformation OperationsCombat SupportCommand and Control (C2)Airlift

Air RefuelingSpaceliftSpecial OpsIntelligenceSurveillance and ReconnaissanceCombat Search and Rescue (CSAR)Navigation and PositioningWeather Services

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DoctrineDoctrine

A belief in the best way to implement/use air and space power

Based on: - History

- Technology

- Future Threats

- Leaders’ Experiences

Provides Guidance Must NOT Stagnate

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Doctrine ExamplesDoctrine Examples WWI - Armies vs. Machine Gun

WWII - Daylight, High Altitude, Unescorted

Precision Bombing

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Time Period

DistinctiveCapabilities

Functions(missions)

Doctrinal Emphasis

Pre- WW I Information Superiority

Surveillance & Reconnaissance Artillery SpottingGathering MilitaryInfo to support landforces

CFD ModelCFD Model

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Principles of WarPrinciples of War

“…those aspects of warfare that are universally true and relevant.”

-Joint Pub 1

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Principles of WarPrinciples of War Historically Tested Apply equally to all U.S. Armed Forces Unity of Command, Objective, Offense,

Mass, Maneuver, Economy of Force, Security, Surprise, Simplicity

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Principles of WarPrinciples of War UNITY OF COMMAND: Ensures unity of effort for every

objective under one responsible commander.

OBJECTIVE: Directs military operations toward a defined and attainable objective that contributes to strategic, operational, or tactical aims.

OFFENSIVE: States that we act rather than react and dictate the time, place, purpose, scope, intensity, and pace operations. The initiative must be seized, retained, and fully exploited.

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Principles of WarPrinciples of War MASS: Concentrates combat power at the

decisive time and place

MANEUVER: Places the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power.

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Principles of WarPrinciples of War ECONOMY OF FORCE: Creates usable mass by

using minimum combat power on secondary objectives. Makes fullest use of forces available.

SECURITY: Protects friendly forces and their operations from enemy actions which could provide the enemy with unexpected advantage.

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Principles of WarPrinciples of War SURPRISE: Strikes the enemy at a time or

place or in a manner for which he is unprepared.

SIMPLICITY: Avoids unnecessary complexity in preparing, planning, and conducting military operations.

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Other PrinciplesOther Principles Restraint: limits collateral damage and

prevents unnecessary or unlawful use of force

Perseverance: ensures commitment necessary to attain desired end state

Legitimacy: develops and maintains the will necessary to attain desired end state

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TenetsTenets Fundamental truths that are unique to the

air and space environment.

- Centralized Control and Decentralized Execution

- Flexibility/Versatility

- Synergistic Effects

- Persistence

- Concentration

- Priority

- Balance

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TenetsTenets Centralized Control/Decentralized

Execution Air power must be controlled by airman…JFACC Delegation of execution authority

Flexibility and Versatility Exploit mass & maneuver simultaneously Parallel attacks…parallel attacks at strategic,

operational, and tactical levels

Synergistic Effects Higher effectiveness than sum of individual

contributions

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TenetsTenets Persistence

Continuous efforts May need to hit targets more than once…do not need to

remain in close proximity to do so Concentration

At a point where it will be decisive Avoid spreading air and space power to thin

Priority Prioritize applications to have greatest impacts Must consider finite force structure

Balance Principles of war and Tenets Offensive and defensive application of power Strategic, operational, and tactical impacts

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Early Years of Flight Early Years of Flight IntroductionIntroduction

Man first flew aloft in a balloon in 1783 Airpower did not have an immediate

impact Flying machines were not readily accepted

by land oriented officers Airpower’s first major impact was not until

World War I

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BalloonsBalloons Montgolfier Brothers flew first hot-air

balloon in 1783 Ben Franklin saw first balloon flight and

immediately he saw military potential First used for military purposes by the

French in 1794 at Maubege. Union and Confederate forces employed

balloons during the American Civil War

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BalloonsBalloons Adolphus W. Greely, the grandfather of

military aviation in U.S., revived interest in military capability of balloons in 1891

- 1898 - Greely balloon used to direct artillery fire during the Battle of San Juan Hill

Interest in balloons dropped quickly with the development of heavier-than-air vehicles

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DirigiblesDirigibles Steerable balloons -- often called “Airships” 1884 -- first successful flight in a dirigible Ferdinand Von Zeppelin -- person most readily

identified with dirigibles - Zeppelins first flown in 1900

- Germans used to bomb England in WW I

- Germans used to fly observation cover for their surface fleet in WW I

Vulnerable to winds and ground fire

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The Early Years of FlightThe Early Years of Flight Uses of Balloons and Dirigibles - Reconnaissance

- Artillery spotting

- Bombing (extremely limited prior to WWI)

- Morale Booster/Escape Means

- Air transport of supplies

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Early Pioneers of FlightEarly Pioneers of Flight Otto Lilienthal -- studied gliders and first to

explain the superiority of curved surfaces Percy Pilcher -- built airplane chassis Octave Chanute -- Developed a double

winged-glider/wrote history of flight to1900 Samuel P. Langley -- First to secure

government support to develop an airplane - Failed twice to fly from houseboat in 1903

- Congress withdrew monetary support

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Orville and Wilbur WrightOrville and Wilbur Wright First to fly a heavier-than-air, power-driven

machine -- 17 December 1903 - Flight traveled 120 feet and lasted 12 seconds Approached flying scientifically and

systematically Used experience of Lilienthal, Pilcher and

Chanute Built a glider in Dayton in 1899 - Moved to Kitty Hawk, N. Carolina in 1900

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Reactions to the Wright’s Reactions to the Wright’s InventionInvention

U.S. government was very skeptical at first

- Not interested because of the Langley’s failures Britain and France were very enthusiastic President Roosevelt directed the

Secretary of War, W. H. Taft, to investigate the Wright brothers’ invention in 1906

Dec.1907 -- Chief Signal Officer, BG James Allen, issued Specification # 486 calling for bids to build the first military aircraft

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Signal Corps Specification Signal Corps Specification #486#486

Established the requirements for the first military aircraft. Aircraft must be able to:

- Carry 2 persons

- Reach speed of 40 mph

- Carry sufficient fuel for 125 mile nonstop flight

- Be controllable in flight in any direction

- Fly at least one hour

- Land at take-off point, without damage

- Be taken apart and reassembled in one hour

- No military operational requirements specified

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Specification #486 (Cont)Specification #486 (Cont) 41 proposals were received, only 3

complied with specifications U.S. Army signed contract with Wright

brothers on 10 Feb 1908 Wright brothers delivered the first military

aircraft on 20 Aug 1908 U.S. Army accepted the first operational

aircraft on 2 Aug 1909

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Early Flight VideoEarly Flight Video

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The Early Years of FlightThe Early Years of Flight Until WWI balloons, dirigibles and aircraft

were primarily reconnaissance vehicles Early on, the flying machines were not

seen as weapons of war Few believed the flying force was ready to

separate air force The potential uses of the airplane would

evolve considerably during WWI

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World War I -- MissionsWorld War I -- Missions Reconnaissance – Collecting visual and

photographic information Counterair – Air-to-air combat Close Air Support – Support of ground

forces Interdiction – Striking enemy resources

close to the battlefield Strategic Bombing – Strikes deep into

enemy territory to destroy war making capabilities

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WWI – Early Uses of AirpowerWWI – Early Uses of Airpower Reconnaissance and artillery spotting - Took away the element of surprise - Hampered by weather / unserviceable aircraft

Pursuit Aviation (Air superiority) - Grew out of attempts to deny reconnaissance - 1st air-to-air kill occurred in Oct. 1914 - Developed rapidly in WWI - Key to winning the air war

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WWI Technological WWI Technological DevelopmentsDevelopments

Roland Garros (French)– Developed metal strips for propellers so machine gun bullets would not shatter the props

Anthony Fokker (Dutch)– Designed synchronizing gear so bullets would pass through the spinning propeller blades

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WWI Technological WWI Technological DevelopmentsDevelopments

Nieuports and Spads (French) – most reliable and flexible aircraft in 1916

Fokker Triplane – German aircraft that put the Germans back on top in 1917

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American Participation in WWIAmerican Participation in WWI When U.S. entered the war in April 1917,

US Air Service was totally unprepared - Aviation Section had 56 pilots and less than 250

airplanes -- none ready for combat

Congress approved $640 million in July 1917 to raise 354 combat squadrons

At the end of WWI, Air Service had 183,000 personnel and 185 squadrons

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Strategic Bombing in WWIStrategic Bombing in WWI Limited in scope and intensity Had a negligible outcome on the war Laid the foundation for future thought

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Bombing of BritainBombing of Britain Germans conducted daylight bombing raids against

Britain using Zeppelins - 1915-16 - Stopped because of poor results

Germans reinitiated daylight raids using Gotha bombers in 1917 – ineffective

Germans begin night bombing using Zeppelins and Reisen bombers – 1917-18 – Primarily terror raids

Strengthened British morale, destroyed little war making capacity

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Allied Bombing of GermanyAllied Bombing of Germany Began in 1914 – generally ineffective British bombed German cities and

airfields in retaliation for German strikes Allies created the Inter-Allied Independent

Air Force (IAIAF) in 1919 for the purpose of bombing Germany.

- War ended before the IAIAF was used

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Strategic Bombing TheoristsStrategic Bombing Theorists Sir Hugh Trenchard

Giulio Douhet

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Sir Hugh TrenchardSir Hugh Trenchard Commander of the Royal Air Force Primary target should be civilian morale Believed allies should attack German

homeland Attack around the clock

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Giulio DouhetGiulio Douhet General in the Italian Army Believed airpower was supreme after WWI Believed bombers would win all wars Air weapon would be used against ports,

railroads and economic structures Best way to gain air superiority was to

destroy the enemy’s ground organization

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Giulio Douhet Giulio Douhet Once air superiority was achieved,

bombers would concentrate on cities to destroy industry and morale

Influenced by Italian geography where there was little threat of a ground invasion

His doctrine led to total war concept—war on the nation as a whole, not just military forces

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Lt Col Edgar S. GorrellLt Col Edgar S. Gorrell Theories mirrored Trenchard, but felt bombing

should concentrate on one city at a time until destroyed

Ignored during war, ideas recognized in 1930’s Believed best way to stop Germans was to

destroy production Stressed continuous day/night bombings to

deprive Germans of rest and repair time Proposed attacks of single to target to complete

destruction

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Review of CFD ModelReview of CFD Model Distinctive Capabilities: 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

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Time Period

DistinctiveCapabilities

Functions(missions)

Doctrinal Emphasis

Pre- WW I Information Superiority

Surveillance & Reconnaissance Artillery SpottingGathering MilitaryInfo to support landforces

Post WW I Information SuperiorityPrecision Engagement

Surveillance & ReconnaissanceCounter AirStrategic attack

Strategic attack, of military targets

CFD ModelCFD Model

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Airpower Through WWIAirpower Through WWI Define Air and Space Power Competencies Distinctive Capabilities Functions Air and Space Doctrine Principles of War Tenets of Air and Space Power

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Airpower Through WWIAirpower Through WWI Lighter-than-air vehicles Potential of the airplane Heavier-than-air vehicles Early Uses of Airpower Airpower in WWI The Battle of Air Supremacy American Participation in WWI

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Airpower Through WWIAirpower Through WWI Close Air Support and Interdiction in

WWI Development of Tactics in WWI Strategic Bombing Theorists Lt Col Edgar S. Gorrell (American)