Planning the American Air War, Four Men and Nine Days in 1941. An Inside Narrative
Abstract
Even if it hadn't been used, the United States' air war plan for World War II would have been uniquely significant. It marked the first time that airmen in the Army Air Forces were permitted to do their own planning; thus it was a crucially important step in their move toward independence. Further, it raised seriously the question of whether a major industrial nation could be defeated solely through air bombardment. For these reasons and others, the plan deserves attention from all who concern themselves with strategies for national defense. We are thus pleased that our NDU Press can make these few moments of history available to you. But plans don't write themselves, and the planning process, rather than the finished document, is the focal point of this study. The author, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Gaston, uses the plan, AWPD-1, as a lens for studying that process. He looks through the document to follow events on the floor of the planners' arena.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA123505
Entities
People
- James C. Gaston
Organizations
- National Defense University