Case Studies in Strategic Bombardment
Author: R. Cargill Hall
Publisher: U.S. Government Printing Office
Published: 1998
Total Pages: 688
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Author: R. Cargill Hall
Publisher: U.S. Government Printing Office
Published: 1998
Total Pages: 688
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Author:
Publisher:
Published: 1998
Total Pages: 679
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →This volume, the third in a series of historical case studies of important air power missions, addresses the most controversial air power mission of all: strategic bombardment. The ability of aircraft and missiles to destroy or disrupt an enemy's war-making potential and to break or weaken his will to resist, independent of the actions of ground and naval forces, has served as the central theme of air power theory and as the rallying point of air advocates, who made it the raison d'etre for independent air forces. Written by well-known military historians, each chapter stands alone as a case study of an important stage in strategic air operations; combined, the chapters provide a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the theory and practice of strategic bombardment from its inception in World War I through the Gulf War of 1991. From "Boom" Trenchard and "Billy" Mitchell to John Warden and Charles Horner, the vision of air power prophets and airmen is tested against the reality of bureaucratic inertia, aircraft capability, technological advances, and bombing accuracy. This exceptional volume surveys the entire history of strategic bombardment and its technology, from the Zeppelin and Gotha of the Great War to the F-117 and the penetrating precision guided bomb of the Gulf War. The reader will find technological advances, such as radar bombing and range-extending air-to-air refueling, that answer one problem only to produce new requirements and expectations that demand more advanced technology. The volume also examines the changes in the public's perception of strategic bombardment. Indeed, public acceptance of combat casualties for both friend and foe has steadily declined in the latter half of the 20th century. Finally, later chapters in the book consider some of the most significant missions and accomplishments of the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War. The work contains over 160 photographs, 21 maps, 17 charts, and 17 tables.
Author: R. Cargill Hall
Publisher:
Published: 1998-01-01
Total Pages: 665
ISBN-13: 9781448659371
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →This book collects articles on bombing operations designed to destroy or disrupt an enemy 's war-making potential and break or weaken their will to resist. Essays provide an in-depth analysis of the evolution of strategic bombardment from World War I through the Gulf War. Originally published by the US Air Force: 680 pp., maps, tables, diagrams, photos, notes, bibliographic essay, index
Author: R. Hall
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2012-07-12
Total Pages: 680
ISBN-13: 9781478234289
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →This volume, the third in a series of historical case studies of important air power missions, addresses the most controversial air power mission of all- strategic bombardment. The ability of aircraft and missiles to destroy or disrupt an enemy's war-making potential and to break or weaken his will to resist, independent of the actions of ground and naval forces, has served as the central theme of air power theory and as the rallying point of air advocates.
Author: Center for Air Force History (U.S.)
Publisher:
Published: 1999*
Total Pages:
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Author: U. S. Military
Publisher:
Published: 2017-12-02
Total Pages: 525
ISBN-13: 9781973449843
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →This unique USAF publication addresses the most controversial (and arguably most significant) air power mission of all -- strategic bombardment. The ability of aircraft and missiles to destroy or disrupt an enemy's war-making potential and to break or weaken his will to resist, independent of the actions of ground and naval forces, has served as the central theme of air power theory and as the rallying point of air advocates, who made it the raison d'etre for independent air forces. Written by well-known military historians, each chapter stands alone as a case study of an important stage in strategic air operations; combined, the chapters provide a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the theory and practice of strategic bombardment from its inception in World War I through the Gulf War of 1991.From "Boom" Trenchard and "Billy" Mitchell to John Warden and Charles Horner, the vision of air power prophets and airmen is tested against the reality of bureaucratic inertia, aircraft capability, technological advances, and bombing accuracy. Seldom in the twentieth century has technology fully met the demands of air power theory. Yet in each era a practitioner of the art appears, such as Harris, Spaatz, LeMay, or Horner, who in some measure modifies prevailing doctrine and stretches the paradigm of his time and circumstances to achieve extraordinary results. Technology, of course, is the prime determinant of doctrine and operations. This exceptional volume surveys the entire history of strategic bombardment and its technology, from the Zeppelin and Gotha of the Great War to the F-117 and the penetrating precision guided bomb of the Gulf War. The reader will find technological advances -- such as radar bombing and range-extending air-to-air refueling -- that answer one problem only to produce new requirements and expectations that demand more advanced technology. Guided munitions, while offering remarkable precision, have underscored the problems of strategic intelligence collection and dissemination, and of locating and attacking both fixed and mobile targets.This volume also examines the changes in the public's perception of strategic bombardment. The exaggerated fears of a "knockout blow" and near total destruction bruited about before World War II gradually were replaced by a general acceptance of area bombing and contemporary satisfaction at the casualties inflicted on the foe during the war itself. That public tolerance evaporated soon after the appearance of the atom bomb. The ever-present threat of a civilization-ending global nuclear war continued for another forty years and made the B-52 bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile both symbols of ultimate destruction and potent tools of nuclear stability. Indeed, public acceptance of combat casualties for both friend and foe has steadily declined in the latter half of the twentieth century. If the World War II bombing of Berlin and Tokyo resonated favorably with public opinion at the time, changing attitudes by the 1990s would never have condoned such an approach to the Gulf conflict.Finally, later chapters in this volume consider some of the most significant missions and accomplishments of the United States Air Force during the Cold War. They examine the actions and events associated with strategic air power that helped repel or deter communist aggression and protect the vital interests of Western democracies throughout the world. The U.S. Air Force's commitment to strategic air power has been consistent and seamless since the days of the B-17 to the era of the B-2. Through the development and elaboration of strategic air warfare capabilities and thought, it has created a modern world in which global air power will be the strategic instrument of choice for power projection and presence in the twenty-first century.
Author: Robert A. Pape
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Published: 2014-04-11
Total Pages: 547
ISBN-13: 0801471508
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →From Iraq to Bosnia to North Korea, the first question in American foreign policy debates is increasingly: Can air power alone do the job? Robert A. Pape provides a systematic answer. Analyzing the results of over thirty air campaigns, including a detailed reconstruction of the Gulf War, he argues that the key to success is attacking the enemy's military strategy, not its economy, people, or leaders. Coercive air power can succeed, but not as cheaply as air enthusiasts would like to believe.Pape examines the air raids on Germany, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq as well as those of Israel versus Egypt, providing details of bombing and governmental decision making. His detailed narratives of the strategic effectiveness of bombing range from the classical cases of World War II to an extraordinary reconstruction of airpower use in the Gulf War, based on recently declassified documents. In this now-classic work of the theory and practice of airpower and its political effects, Robert A. Pape helps military strategists and policy makers judge the purpose of various air strategies, and helps general readers understand the policy debates.
Author:
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Published:
Total Pages: 698
ISBN-13: 1428992472
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Author: Robert A. Pape
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Published: 1996-04-18
Total Pages: 388
ISBN-13: 9780801483110
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Can air bombardment break the morale of an enemy and force it to capitulate or does it strengthen the enemy's determination to resist? In the first major book since the Vietnam War on the theory and practice of airpower and its political effects, Robert A. Pape helps policy makers judge the purpose of various air strategies, and helps general readers understand the policy debates. Pape examines the air raids on Germany, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq as well as those of Israel versus Egypt, providing details of bombing operations and governmental decision making. His detailed narratives of the strategic effectiveness of bombing range from the classical cases of World War II to an extraordinary reconstruction of airpower use in the Gulf War, based on recently declassified documents. Pape argues convincingly that airpower is no "magic bullet" nor a way to win inexpensively. His conclusions will provoke debate from the highest military circles to the armchair generals in academia and Congress and have ramifications for questions from defense budget cuts to international policy in Bosnia. The wealth of systematically collected evidence should be a source of scholarly debates for years to come.
Author: Herman Gilster
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2012-08-01
Total Pages: 152
ISBN-13: 9781478356837
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →The war in Southeast Asia lasted for nine long years and proved to be the most controversial of all U.S. wars. This books presents five case studies conducted during that war involving three missions of air power - interdiction, close air support and strategic bombardment. A major purpose of this book is to pull together these previously classified studies under one cover, set to a central theme based on lessons learned (and relearned) in Southeast Asia. Air university Press, United States Air Force.