The Air Campaign · Planning for Combat by Warden, John A. III -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title page TABLE OF CONTENTS Illustrations

Photographs Tables

Foreword Preface Introduction Acknowledgments The Air Campaign in Prospect

The Levels of War Lack of Coherent Operational Doctrine Two Levels Nearly Merged in Western Europe "Center of Gravity" Useful in Planning Single Arms Can Prevail

1. Air Superiority-The Concept

Air Supremacy Allows Operations Anywhere Air Superiority Crucial to Success The Five Cases of War Infrastructure Essential

2. Offense or Defense-the Chess Game

Emphasize Defense, or Concentrate on Offense Two Examples of Air Defense Phasing Important to Defense MacArthur Sought Air Superiority Kenny Exploited Japanese Doctrine Misplaced Contempt Can Lead to Errors Indirect Feint Can be Effective

3. Offensive Operations

War Can be Won From the Air "Equipment Chain" Must be Evaluated Obvious Choice Often Worst One Patience, Persistence are the Keys Flight Crews are Precious Resource Command is True Center of Gravity Ethnocentricity Should be Avoided Hansell Urges Strategic Bombing in Pacific Israelis Capitalize on Weaknesses in Syrian Doctrine

4. Defensive Operations

Doctrine May Influence the Situation Mass Must be Available for Attacker Damage is Key to Not Losing Loss Ratios a Function of Force Ratios The More Warning, the Better

5. Limited Options

Options Depend on the Enemy Mobility Can Win the Battle Candid Advice Needed

6. Air Interdiction

In Retreat Static Defense Against An Enemy Offensive Offensive Operations on Both Sides Offensive Operations Against a Static Defense Against a Retreating Enemy Against Self-Sufficient Forces

7. Close Air Support

Close Air Versus Interdiction Ground Commanders are in Charge Close Air Can be a Substitute Bad Weather Can Limit Close Air Support

8. Reserves

Reserves May Help Better the Odds Shock Value of Reserves Can be Valuable Sortie Not Flown is Not a Sortie Lost Air Reserves Won the Battle of Britain Reserves Can be Applicable to Air Operations War Efforts Come in Surges

9. The Orchestration of War

Political, Military Objectives are Related Theater Commander's Position is Unique "Liberators Instead of Destroyers" "Radical" Ideas May be Opposed Center of Gravity Must be Identified Air Seen as a Supporting Arm Broad Front, or Indirect Approach Sea Forces Easiest to Choose or Reject

10. Planning the Air Campaign

Enemy's Plans May be Anticipated Statistics Favor the Side that Moves First Center of Gravity May Not be Reachable Throw Everything at the Ground Three Categories of Interdiction Mystify, Mislead, Surprise Reserves-To Have or Have Not

The Air Campaign In Retrospect

Two Ends of the Scale Numbers are Important Reserves A New Subject War is Baffling, Intriguing

Selected Bibliography