Air Power IV

Air Power IV

The Men, Machines, and Ideas Which Revolutionized War from Kitty hawk to Iraq.

By Stephen Budiansky

A Book Report by Larry Eicher 

World War II was preceded by The Spanish Civil War, July 17, 1936 – April 1, 1939.  The conflict proved to be timed just right for the countries building up for WW II to use it as a testing ground for their own forces.  They could try out their equipment and men under combat conditions.  Mussolini’s Italy and Nazi Germany supported the Spanish Nationalists.  The Spanish Republicans were supported by the Soviet Union.

WW II began in September 1, 1939 when the Germans attacked the Polish who were unable to defend themselves.  The Nazis attacked with blitzkrieg, aka “lightning War.” They had radio contact between the elements of their force and they moved quickly before the Polish knew what to do.

As I mentioned previously in “Air Power” III the war began with many technological advancements.  The biplane was almost gone.  Monoplanes were the way to go.  Bombers began the war using the best bomb site from the end of WW I.  Fighters were fast enough to keep up with the bombers even though the bombers didn’t know they needed them yet.  Air Power advocates knew bombs could sink ships.  The Army and Navy were still feuding.  Air Craft carriers gradually began replacing Battleships.  That process sped up from Pearl Harbor onward.  That was a difficult change to accept for many!

Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero

At the beginning of WW II, the Japanese zero was the best fighter in the world.  The German ME 109 was about equal to the British Spitfire.  The 109 had an advantage over early American fighters because it was fuel injected and the engine would keep running in a dive.  The carbureted American fighters would lose engine power in a dive. 

Supermarine Spitfire

As the war in Europe moved on, the bomber command decided fighters were needed to protect the bombers since their armament was inadequate.  The Allies were losing many bombers.  

Mr. Budiansky covers details of WW II related to Men, Machines, and Idea as the title suggests.  He provides many details beyond the scope of this book report.  It is called World War II for good reason.  There were theaters of operations all over the world, obviously.  Among many the major ones were: The European Theater, The Mediterranean Theater, African and Middle East Theater and the Pacific Theater.

One development of technology has been a thread throughout the book, even in other wars.  Bombardment accuracy has posed a problem since the beginning of aviation.  The United States championed Daylight Precision Bombardment which was anything but accurate at least through WW II.  The Norden Bomb Sight was supposed to take Bombing accuracy a new level but that level was not good enough.   I just have to use a word Budiansky did not use is his book.  Idealism was at the center of the controversy.  When reality in bombing could not live up to the ideal, The Idealists broke from reality to called the benefits of bombing morale bombing  There are two words he uses in this area.  You have to pay attention to their use.  They are “moral” and “morale” It was considered by many, Worldwide, to be immoral to kill citizens with bombing.  The word, “moral”, morphed into “morale” as the debate about bombing accuracy continued.  Inaccurate bombing became “morale” bombing as time went on and the problem of bombing accuracy was not resolved.  The idea was to cause the civilian population to demand the threat be removed by surrender.  Since bombing accuracy was unattainable, drop the bombs indiscriminately and they will affect morale of the populace.  The workers might be unable to concentrate on weapon production because of the bombing.  I can tell you he describes the solution to accurate bombing later in the book.

Boeing B-17 Superfortress (public domain)

Where the European theater was configured around the aerial and infantry fighters at the beginning, War in the Pacific was fought with submarines, carriers and aircraft at the beginning.  The Pacific fleet had been decimated at Pearl Harbor.  The Carriers were undamaged since they were absent.  As time passed both theaters saw advancements and changes.  The full story is too complex to be contemplated in this context.  The story has been much told.

By the end of the war in the European Theater, the North American P-51 had emerged and accompanied the bombers all the Way to Berlin.  The Germans had introduced weapons no one had dreamed of previously such as V-1’s buzz bombs, V-2’s, rockets and a jet power fighter, the ME 262, not to mention a rocket powered fighter in development, Me 163.

Messerschmitt ME 262A

By the end of the war in the Pacific Theater the Boeing B-29 Super Fortress had emerged as the ultimate air weapon to deliver the Atom Bomb to Japan.  Japan had released Suicide Pilots on the world.  The USA had a total of twenty-seven Aircraft Carriers at the end.  Naval aviation was a definitive factor at the end of the war.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress (public domain)

Little Boy Atomic Bomb (public domain)

 

Air Power by Stephen Budiansky tells the story in much more detail.  It is well worth reading in my opinion.