Airpower Through WW I

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Mitchell Video

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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 Model

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World 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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World War I—Missions

• Reconnaissance – Collecting visual and photographic information-- What was the overall attitude regarding aviators?-- Why was Germany successful at Tannenberg?-- How did France turn the tide of war?

• Counterair – Air-to-air combat-- Who was Roland Garros? How did he change the war?-- Why arm the planes?-- What was Anthony Fokker’s contribution?-- What was the Allies’ response?

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• Roland Garros (French): Developed metal strips for propellers so machine gun bullets would not shatter the props– First WWI pilot to shoot

down an enemy plane by firing through propeller blades

Technological Developments

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

Technological Developments

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• Nieuports and Spads (French): Most reliable and flexible aircraft in 1916

• Fokker Triplanes: German aircraft that put the Germans back on top in 1917

Technological Developments

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American Participation in WWI

• When United States. 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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World War I—Missions

• 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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Strategic 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 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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• 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

British Handley Page Bomber

Allied Bombing of Germany

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Strategic Bombing Theorists

• Sir Hugh Trenchard

• Giulio Douhet

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• Commander of the Royal Air Force• Primary target should be civilian morale• Believed allies should attack German

homeland• Attack around the clock

Sir Hugh Trenchard

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• 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

Giulio Douhet

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• 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 a total war concept—war on the nation as a whole, not just military forces

Giulio Douhet (cont’d)

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Review 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

Review of CFD Model