One of our AFA staff members ran across Field Manual 100-20 dated 21 July 1943. It is a pithy piece which lays out what the Army and Army Air Force thought about the Command and Employment of Air Power. If you don’t have time for the whole document, the first section: Doctrine of Command and Employment is worth your time. I have copied it below my name. Note the succinctness of the document and the relevance of it to today.
You can find the entire 12 page piece at: http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/documents/fm100-20_jul_1943.pdf
For your consideration.
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
“The only thing more expensive than a first-rate Air Force is … a second-rate Air Force.” -- Senate staff member
DOCTRINE OF COMMAND AND EMPLOYMENT
1. RELATIONSHIP OF FORCES -- LAND POWER AND AIR POWER ARE CO-EQUAL AND INTERDEPENDENT FORCES; NEITHER IS AN AUXILIARY OF THE OTHER
2. DOCTRINE OF EMPLOYMENT -- AIR SUPERIORITY IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE SUCCESS OF ANY MAJOR LAND OPERATION. AIR FORCES MAY BE PROPERLY AND PROFITABLY EMPLOYED AGAINST ENEMY SEA POWER, LAND POWER, AND AIR POWER, HOWEVER, LAND FORCES OPERATING [WITHOUT] AIR SUPERIORITY MUST TAKE SUCH EXTENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES [AGAINST] HOSTILE AIR ATTACH THAT THEIR MOBILITY AND ABILITY TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY LAND FORCES ARE GREATLY REDUCED. THEREFORE, AIR FORCES MUST BE EMPLOYED PRIMARILY AGAINST THE ENEMY’S AIR FORCES UNTIL AIR SUPERIORITY IS OBTAINED. IN THIS WAY ONLY CAN DESTRUCTIVE AND [DEMORALIZING] AIR ATTACKS AGAINST LAND FORCES BE MINIMIZED AND THE [INTERNET] MOBILITY OF MODERN LAND AND AIR FORCES BE EXPLOITED TO THE FULLEST.
3. COMMAND OF AIR POWER – THE INHERENT FLEXIBILITY OF AIR POWER, IS ITS GREATEST ASSET. THIS FLEXIBILITY MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO EMPLOY THE WHOLE WEIGHT OF THE AVAILABLE AIR POWER AGAINST SELECTED AREAS IN TURN; SUCH CONCENTRATED USE OF THE AIR STRIKING FORCE IS A BATTLE WINNING FACTOR OF THE FIRST IMPORTANCE. CONTROL OF AVAILABLE AIR POWER MUST BE CENTRALIZED AND COMMAND MUST BE EXERCISED THROUGH THE AIR FORCE COMMANDER IF THIS INHERENT FLEXIBILITY AND ABILITY TO DELIVER A DECISIVE BLOW ARE TO BE FULLY EXPLOITED. THEREFORE, THE COMMAND OF AIR AND GROUND FORCES IN A THEATER OF OPERATIONS WILL BE VESTED IN THE SUPERIOR COMMANDER CHARGED WITH THE ACTUAL CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS IN THE THEATER, WHO WILL EXERCISE COMMAND OF AIR FORCES THROUGH THE AIR FORCE COMMANDER AND COMMAND OF GROUND FORCES THROUGH THE GROUND FORCE COMMANDER. THE SUPERIOR COMMANDER WILL NOT ATTACH ARMY AIR FORCES TO UNITS OF THE GROUND FORCES UNDER HIS COMMAND EXCEPT WHEN SUCH GROUND FORCE UNITS ARE OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY OR ARE ISOLATED BY DISTANCE OR LACK OF COMMUNICATION.
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4 comments:
There is a whole host of early doctrin and field manuals at the Fairchild Reseach Center and Library at Maxwell AFB, AL. I was stunned to flip through the delicate pages of the 1940s documents and read some of the concepts that are still very relevant today. Good piece of Air Force history, before there was an Air Force!
I believe the original doctrine on the employment of air power is still very relevant today. Since the demise of the C27J, which was to be attached and subordinated to a ground (Army/Marine commander, we are considering attaching the even more important air mobility asset, the C130J, to fulfill this perceived lack of direct support to maneuvering ground units. I believe this is a serious breach of the doctrine and not justified by evidence that ground units are not being adequately supported in our current mode of combat operations.
Spell checker failed you. Multiple words spelled wrong. Makes you look like you didn't take the time to review.
BillK, that is an excerpt from the original doctrine. The doctrine was indeed read/reviewed, however, we chose to make no changes to it in the Note from the President, to preserve its authenticity.
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