The%20Interwar%20Years

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The Interwar Years
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Interwar Years Background

• Following WWI, US returned to isolationism
• Civilian aviation boomed, military budgets were
  cut
• Air service sought to develop an air doctrine
• Period marked by organizational change and
  personality clashes
• Few airmen saw the potential of the airplane

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Interwar YearsGeneral William Billy Mitchell

• Director of Military Aviation in 1919
• Believed the airplane would change the defense
  establishment
• Believed the air service was an offensive force
  equal to the Army and Navy
• Views were strongly opposed by the Army and Navy

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Billy Mitchell (Cont)

• A visionary, fanatic and prophet
• Alienated many due to constant attacks and need
  for 100 support
• Technology was not capable of meeting his
  expectations -- cost him credibility
• Feuded extensively with the Navy -- Claimed the
  battleship was obsolete
• His planes bombed and sunk 3 ships
• Infuriated the Navy leadership

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Mitchells Last Campaign

• 1922 - 1924 -- Mitchell concentrated on
  developing doctrine
• advocated strategic bombardment
• 1925 -- Demoted to Colonel because of his
  unrelenting bid for a separate air force
• After the crash of the dirigible, Shenandoah,he
  accused military leaders of incompetence and
  criminal negligence
• Court-martial -- October 25, 1925

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Mitchells Legacy

• Focused attention on airpower
• Forced people to accept the potential of airpower
• Mentored many aviators who would carry on his
  work -- some became instructors at the Air Corps
  Tactical School (ACTS)

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Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS) Origins

• Founded in 1920 at Langley AFB, VA
• Moved to Maxwell AFB, AL in 1931
• Original mission was to teach air strategy and
  tactics
• Changed to developing and teaching air doctrine
  (principles and philosophy)

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Air Corps Tactical School Teachings

• Future wars would be decided by airpower
• Airplane would be the primary offensive weapon
• High-altitude strategic daylight bombing could
  paralyze and defeat an industrialized enemy
  without heavy losses

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Air Corps Tactical School

• Preoccupation with bombers and their missions
  overwhelmed other teachings
• Claire Chennault, who led the Flying Tigers in
  WWII, taught pursuit aviation -- advocated
  escorting bombers and strafing enemy rear areas
• George Kenney, who commanded the Pacific Air
  Force in WW II, taught attack aviation --
  strafing attacks on enemy troops and behind enemy
  lines

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Organizational Change

• Army Reorganization Act of 1920
• Air Service gained autonomy in RD, procurement,
  personnel, supply and training
• Air Corps Act of 1926
• Changed the name of the Air Service to Air Corps
  -- implied the Air Corps was capable of
  independent operations

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Interwar YearsOrganizational Change

• General Headquarters Air Force - 1935
• Placed all tactical units under the Commander,
  GHQ
• Recognition of an independent aviation branch
  within the Army

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Summary

• At conclusion of WWI ...
• Mood of the country Isolationism
• Military emphasis decreased / budgets cut
• Billy Mitchells contribution to autonomy
• Convinced airplanes would change how war fought
• Believed Air Service was an offensive force on
  same level as Navy and Army
• Lobbied Army ground officers / Congress for
  separate Air Service

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Summary (cont)

• Air Corps Tactical School
• Mission
• Teach air strategy and tactics (initially)
• Evolved to development / teaching air doctrine
• Theories professed
• Air Service should be equal to Navy and Army
• Future wars decided by airpower
• Bombers key to defeat enemy without heavy losses

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Summary (cont)

• Significance of Army Reorg Act of 1920
• Air Service part of combat mission of the Army
• Gained considerable autonomy
• Significance of Air Corps Act of 1926
• Renamed Air Service to Air Corps, implying
  independent ops capability
• Began 5-yr expansion plan for personnel / acft
• Significance of General HQ AF (1935)
• all tactical units under Commander, GHQ
• Recognized independent aviation branch within the
  Army