Fifth Air Force Light and Medium Bomber Operations During 1942 and 1943: Building Doctrine and Forces that Triumphed in the World War II Battle of the Bismarck Sea and the Wewak Raid, Skip-Bombing

Nonfiction, History, Military, Aviation, World War II
Cover of the book Fifth Air Force Light and Medium Bomber Operations During 1942 and 1943: Building Doctrine and Forces that Triumphed in the World War II Battle of the Bismarck Sea and the Wewak Raid, Skip-Bombing by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781370570515
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: September 23, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781370570515
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: September 23, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

This important report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. When Generals George C. Kenney and Ennis C. Whitehead became the two senior commanders of the US Fifth Air Force in July 1942 their work was cut out for them. The previous January, the Japanese secured the port of Rabaul in eastern New Britain. They immediately began the drive down the east coast of New Guinea with the objective of driving the Allies from Port Moresby. For the next year and a half, in some the harshest climate of World War II, the Fifth Air Force helped to reverse the tide and drive the Japanese from eastern New Guinea. This was accomplished despite the Europe-first policy and an inappropriate doctrine based on high altitude, daylight, precision bombing.
Kenney and Whitehead's first task was to modify existing aircraft and develop a suitable doctrine to interdict Japanese shipping between New Britain and New Guinea. In order to suppress ship-borne antiaircraft artillery, forward-firing machine guns were mounted in the nose of Douglas A-20 light bombers and North American B-25 medium bombers. Low altitude skip-bombing tactics were borrowed from the British and perfected by constant practice and refinement.
By February 1943, Allied intelligence, greatly aided by ULTRA intercepts, predicted the movement of a Japanese convoy destined for New Guinea. Kenney and Whitehead were determined to destroy the convoy with their recently modified commerce destroyer fleet and focused all their energies on doing so. A dress rehearsal featuring the Fifth Air Force light and medium bombers as the main striking force was conducted in the Port Moresby Harbor. On March 3rd after being hit twice by mass, coordinated attacks, the convoy was virtually wiped out in what became known as the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
That same fleet of light and medium bombers also proved deadly against enemy airfields. Aircraft combat range was extended and modifications were made to the bomb bays to accept parachute fragmentation bombs. Airfield attack profiles were developed and once again, ULTRA provided a suitable target. In preparation for the anticipated Allied ground invasion of the Huon Peninsula, the Japanese moved the 4th Air Army to their four bases near Wewak. Beginning on August 17th, in a carefully- planned attack, Fifth Air Force bombers caught the enemy on the ground. By August 21st, nearly every aircraft at Wewak was destroyed. The subsequent Allied invasion was carried out virtually unopposed from the air.
Fifth Air Force light and medium bomber operations during 1942 and 1943 are textbook examples of doctrinal flexibility and extraordinary innovation. The unprecedented success of both the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and the Wewak Raid illustrate how airpower became the dominant force in the Southwest Pacific.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This important report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. When Generals George C. Kenney and Ennis C. Whitehead became the two senior commanders of the US Fifth Air Force in July 1942 their work was cut out for them. The previous January, the Japanese secured the port of Rabaul in eastern New Britain. They immediately began the drive down the east coast of New Guinea with the objective of driving the Allies from Port Moresby. For the next year and a half, in some the harshest climate of World War II, the Fifth Air Force helped to reverse the tide and drive the Japanese from eastern New Guinea. This was accomplished despite the Europe-first policy and an inappropriate doctrine based on high altitude, daylight, precision bombing.
Kenney and Whitehead's first task was to modify existing aircraft and develop a suitable doctrine to interdict Japanese shipping between New Britain and New Guinea. In order to suppress ship-borne antiaircraft artillery, forward-firing machine guns were mounted in the nose of Douglas A-20 light bombers and North American B-25 medium bombers. Low altitude skip-bombing tactics were borrowed from the British and perfected by constant practice and refinement.
By February 1943, Allied intelligence, greatly aided by ULTRA intercepts, predicted the movement of a Japanese convoy destined for New Guinea. Kenney and Whitehead were determined to destroy the convoy with their recently modified commerce destroyer fleet and focused all their energies on doing so. A dress rehearsal featuring the Fifth Air Force light and medium bombers as the main striking force was conducted in the Port Moresby Harbor. On March 3rd after being hit twice by mass, coordinated attacks, the convoy was virtually wiped out in what became known as the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
That same fleet of light and medium bombers also proved deadly against enemy airfields. Aircraft combat range was extended and modifications were made to the bomb bays to accept parachute fragmentation bombs. Airfield attack profiles were developed and once again, ULTRA provided a suitable target. In preparation for the anticipated Allied ground invasion of the Huon Peninsula, the Japanese moved the 4th Air Army to their four bases near Wewak. Beginning on August 17th, in a carefully- planned attack, Fifth Air Force bombers caught the enemy on the ground. By August 21st, nearly every aircraft at Wewak was destroyed. The subsequent Allied invasion was carried out virtually unopposed from the air.
Fifth Air Force light and medium bomber operations during 1942 and 1943 are textbook examples of doctrinal flexibility and extraordinary innovation. The unprecedented success of both the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and the Wewak Raid illustrate how airpower became the dominant force in the Southwest Pacific.

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: Bridging NanoEHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) Research Efforts: A Joint U.S.-EU Workshop, Nanomaterials Assessment by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 2015 Osama bin Laden's Bookshelf: Complete Declassified Documents and Letters by the Terrorist Leader on Wide Range of Topics, plus Letters from Abbottabad (Usama bin Ladin and al Qaeda) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book India and Pakistan Civil: Military Relations – Review of Military Coup Potential, Khan Deposing Mirza, Bhutto Replacing Khan, Zia-ul-Haq Deposing Bhutto, Sino-Indian War, Gandhi Declaring Emergency by Progressive Management
Cover of the book No Sense in Dwelling on the Past? The Fate of the U.S. Air Force's German Air Force Monograph Project, 1952-69, World War II von Rohden and Karlsruhe Projects, Bundesluftwaffe, Effects on NATO by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Nuclear Power Plant Reactor Training Manual: Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) Design at Japan TEPCO Fukushima Plant and U.S. Plants - Comprehensive Technical Data on Systems, Components, and Operations by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Coastal Fortifications and National Military Policy, 1815-1835: History of Fortifications from Colonial Period to Third System, Military Policy After War of 1812, Monroe and Madison Guidance Report by Progressive Management
Cover of the book War in the Balkans, 1991-2002: Comprehensive History of Wars Provoked by Yugoslav Collapse: Balkan Region in World Politics, Slovenia and Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: Joint Force Land Component Commander Handbook (JFLCC) - U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Command Structure (Value-Added Professional Format Series) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book ULTRA and the Army Air Forces in World War II: An Interview with Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Lewis F. Powell, Jr. - ENIGMA, MAGIC, Codebreaking, Crossbow, Colossus, Intelligence by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Black Magic and Gremlins: Analog Flight Simulations at NASA's Flight Research Center (NASA SP-2000-4520), X-15 Simulator, Lifting Body Simulation, Short Take-off and Landing, Boost Vehicles by Progressive Management
Cover of the book FBI Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines and Training Manual: Criteria and Definitions, Scenarios of Bias Motivation, Race, Religion, Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, Disability, Gender by Progressive Management
Cover of the book National Defense Intelligence College Paper: The Creation of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency: Congress's Role as Overseer - Colin Powell, John Glenn, Newt Gingrich, CIA by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Gemini Program Mission Report: Gemini 12 - November 1966, Astronauts Lovell and Aldrin, Complete Details of the Spacecraft, Mission Operations, Experiments, EVA, Spacewalk, Agena Target Docking by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Augmenting Security on Department of Defense Installations to Defeat the Active Shooter Threat: Case Studies of Fort Hood, Washington Navy Yard, and Chattanooga Attacks, More Armed Personnel by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Lt. General Ned Almond, U.S. Army: A Ground Commander's Conflicting View with Airmen over CAS Doctrine and Employment - Close Air Support in World War I, II, Korean War, Command and Control by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy