Samuel Razumovskiy
Sandra Woodward
English 102
May 26, 2015
How does Aviation Affect Warfare? Aviation has had many impacts on the world, especially warfare. Changing the way we fight forever aviation is constantly changing the battlefield since WWI. In every war after WWI aviation was a prominent factor in the way battles played out, and in the end the war. It is even a large factor in naval warfare since its introduction. WWI was the war which created the significant role for aviation in modern warfare. Starting out with reconnaissance flights and ending with bombing runs with escort fighters, WWI showed the speed at which aviation can change. During WWI enemy reconnaissance pilots usually just waved at each other as they flew by since
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The jets are able to provide quick air support to troops on the ground while UAVs stay up for longer periods of time providing aerial reconnaissance and airstrikes if need be (Deeb). Currently the Marines have their own air force for providing air cover for themselves during assaults. Airpower for the US Marines is extremely important especially during a beach assault since the navy has retired its battleship fleet (Deeb). Gregory Deeb explains very well what happens …show more content…
The first general to advocate for an Air Force was General Billy Mitchell. He wanted to be the commander of the US Air Force since he believed aircraft were going to start to play a larger role in warfare. To show why he believed so, Mitchell had a demonstration shown to a group of congressmen (WhipLash007). The demonstration was of a captured German battleship, deemed unsinkable, being destroyed by a couple planes with 2000 lbs bombs (WhipLash007). This caught the eye of Navy admirals who decided to invest in a ship that can carry a large supply of planes on its deck. Thus the first carriers were born. With the creation of the aircraft carrier, the Navy had to find a way for the planes to land safely; some progress was made but it was still extremely dangerous until angled landing strips were created (Chipman). When WWII came along it was time for Naval aviation to prove itself as a weapon of the seas. Naval aviation came with a bang when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and destroyed many US ships. But the US was lucky, although the entire battleship fleet was destroyed, there were no carriers in port at the time. After the bombing, the Japanese decided to attack the US held island of Midway Atoll. The Japanese attacked with nearly 200 ships while the US had only fifty with three of them aircraft carriers (WhipLash007). In the morning of June 4, the Japanese
These changes helped their flights last longer and were now able to be used as a way of transportation. By the year of 1908 they had signed a contract with the U.S. Army for production of the Wright plane. In 1918 the airmail service began and in 1920 the government established the first transcontinental airmail service, making a great impact in the nation. Another way in which planes have made an impact in history was in war, for example, World War 1. The military began using planes which were loaded with bombs. Planes were used to gather information, machine guns were put in the planes to have air combats. In the second war, World War II, Germany used powerful aircraft in their military strategy called blitzkrieg. Another devastating impact that was made with the use of airplanes was the attack on Pearl
The previous years of the beginning World War I, the military technology produced an enormous firepower that made the 20th century’s western armies capable to set up advantageous positions, and during the course of the war, tanks, artillery and infantry weapons, aircraft, battleship, and gas were decisive solutions. For example, Knox and Murray state that in 1917 air force was a very important power in both Britain and Germany, which provided them not only the reconnaissance to reconnoiter enemy positions but also artillery observation to support the bombing missions by enhancing its attack and coordinating ground-air operations. Due to today’s progress in technologies since World War I has acquainted with, military is able to conduct fight by using advanced technologies in the uncertain and complex environment whether in defensive or offensive positions that enhance the speed and quality of combat, as well as the basic combat value of an individual warrior. In today’s warfare, similarly World War I, military forces use last advanced weaponries and unmanned aircrafts to provide air operations in terms of intelligence and reconnaissance and to continue their combat role by attacking high-value targets. For instance, in today’s conflicts such as Afghanistan and Iraq the unmanned aerial vehicles play the same
Since the beginning of aviation, aircraft have been used for other intentions besides carrying passengers and cargo. They have been used as weapons of war dating all the way back to the first world war, and the use of aircraft has enlightened the advancement of the aviation. “Throughout the history of aviation, the greatest progress in flight has been made during time when either war or the threat of war was present” (Millspaugh, et al., 2008, p. 33). However, the war we face today has been triggered by the deliberate use of aircraft to cause death, destruction, and mayhem.
In the start of World War I no nation had imagined a ship to where planed could land and take off from, such as an aircraft carrier. The Naval Act of 1916 provided $500 million for items such as battleships, battle cruisers, and submarines. There had been not one mention of funding naval air. However many advancements came during World War I that would affect not just the United States Navy, but the rest of the world for multiple generations to come. Great was leading the charge with having produced two functioning aircraft carriers by 1918. There was no other nation that had even produced one yet. However Japan was the first to build a aircraft carrier from the keel up, meaning that it was not a converted battleships like the previous aircraft carriers. Naval air power built up to 160,000 officers and men, as well as 500 aircraft and 26 naval stations as World War I brought the United States Navy’s 1st Aeronautical Detachment to Europe.
Over the years, America has been involved in numerous conflicts. One of the most controversial has been the Vietnam War. Even though the United States Military failed in its efforts in the war against Vietnam, the military has learned valuable lessons about our forces during the conflict. Anti-Aircraft weapons were used during the Vietnam War, and their capabilities have increased over time to become what is now called Air Defense. Air Defense’s equipment, units, and personnel played a critical role especially during the ambush on Route 9 of the Vietnam War.
The Aviation Branch of the U.S. Army, as we know it today, did not exist at the turn of the 1800 to 1900 centuries. The military did use a Balloon Corps and Detachment for the Civil and Spanish-American Wars respectfully. However, the Army deactivated both organizations after their usage in the campaigns. These artillery spotters and reconnoiters were helpful. However, the leadership did not see a usage for them outside of war. Therefore, it would take someone understanding the potential of air power to open a door for its peacetime usage. This occurred with the birth of the Signal Corps.
Within a period of four years, several technological advances were made in aviation due to the fact that combatants actively participating in the war sought air superiority and they desperately wanted to stay one step ahead of each other.
Aerial warfare was also in the rise for the modern warfare, the Germans were developing the zeppelin which was an airship that is long and cylinder shape and had a rigid frame. It was used for bombings, but it was vulnerable because it used a highly flammable gas, so it was basically a flying bomb too. The zeppelin started to target the main base of Britain,but ended bombing a residence. This led to the production of the plane to stop the zeppelin to have another raid. The first planes had machine guns mounted in the front and back. Since WW1 was the first modern warfare, aerial warfare was introduced and new tech was being used and this was new so the pilots don't have that much training and were only trained for like couple month or weeks. This supports my thesis by showing that the technology they used in the war was modern like using aerial warfare in the battle field. The zeppelin was a good example of an advance invention the Germans had invented because it was the first to set of in the air. Aviation was the first for these soldiers and many of them gave up their lives in the battle
Policies of nations became more integrated and humanitarian. With all those effects airpower tried to find new position for himself. Infect that argument is still going on. Improving technology and changing international security issues make airpower the most famous and wanted actor of the war scenes. With the beginning of the World War II, USAF played a very vital role. He was almost the basic strike power against the enemy. He had huge destruction, deterrence, speed, flexibility abilities like today. At the close end of the World War II, air force was used as a strategic bomber. That campaign was like the pioneer attacks of the global strikes. After that era, cold war had begun. USAF was the number one actor. He had an ability to attack long range targets and that was about to be the most scary capability for the enemies. That was an amazing capability to be able reach where he
Military aircraft have become extremely technologically advanced and task specific throughout the history of air warfare. As soon as aircraft were put to use in warfare they became a necessity to win and advance. The biggest technological advances in military aircraft began after World War 2. There are planes designed for specific tasks such as air to ground combat, air to air combat, surveillance, bombing, mail carriers, and troop transportation. All of these different tasks performed by military aircraft play a key role in the success of our military.
Towards the end of the War the airplane becomes a practical device of war being able to carry weapons. Anthony Fokker and Louis Bleriot create the most successful of early modern biplanes known as the D-VII and D-VIII. Biplanes are eventually taken over by the monoplane, or one wing. This new design allowed for faster flight and better visibility for the pilot. Air-cooled engines lead the way for commercial aircraft, and Boeing introduces the first modern airliner the 247. Airplanes are effected the greatest by supply and demand of war. New styles of war begun to emerge so did new and improved types of aircraft. The population of the U.S. also begun to grow which leads to the modern most sophisticated commercial airliner the 777. Most aircraft improvements are found in the military and intelligence field. The most high tech aircraft known today for such things as spying are the SR-71 Blackbird, and the U-2 Spy plane. The most complicated and best aircraft performance is still held by the space shuttle and probably always will be. The last 200 years have seen incredible changes in aircraft from the man with wings to heavier than air flying machines that can travel at supersonic speeds.
Dating back as far as the 91900s airpower has a long history of being innovative and effective. “In 1915, the War College Division of the Army General Staff produced a paper on military aviation that identified three functions that aircraft should perform: reconnaissance, control of the air, and interdiction. Just a year into the war--two years before America joined in the fighting--US Airmen were already codifying functions of airpower that are still
The very simplistic technology made it highly adaptable to war engineers and war scientists which they found dozens of ways to use it. Planes played a minimal role in WW1 but as planes increased in size and more bombs were invented it became a very clear threat, in WW2 battles were basically won for the side to spot the where abouts of planes, ships and submarines it gave the allies or enemies an edge so countries developed R.A.D.A.R this made enemies and allies alike to see hundreds of miles even in the darkest of nights. There were no aerial, sea and land based battles that were Radar didn’t impact it. Although in 1941 December the 7th almost an hour before the pearl harbor bombings, a mobile radio station on the north side of Oahu had detected the approach of a Japanese aircraft the operators of the station reported the sightings to their superiors but the reports were dismissed due to them being inexperienced. If the reports were not ignored this could have prevented the attacks on pearl harbor and could have significantly changed the history of ww2 as we know
The advancement within fighter planes has had an enormous impact on society. Prior to the fighter plane, when in war army troops would be confused where the enemy is based and what they are doing. This was because they never thought flying was achievable so this was not thought about majorly. Fighter planes today are utilized even more than they were 102 years ago… There is now the inclusion of faster engines, higher altitudes, weaponry attached, and the ability to hold more cargo. Fighter planes have had an effect on the growth of people interested in aviation in the army. This therefore is creating jobs for the future and making society better as more people are involved in this workplace. The demand of fighter planes has increased as in
After another world war it gave a boost of flight technology. Airplanes sustained a major part in the world wars! Piston-engines electrified a tremendous predominant part of World War II fighters it grew more powerful.