Psychological Effects of U.S. Air Operations in Four Wars, 1941-1991. Lessons for U.S. Commanders,

Abstract

This study suggests ways to maximize the psychological impact of U.S. airpower in future conflicts. It draws on enemy prisoner of war (POW) interrogations and other data from the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf wars to analyze the psychological effects of past U.S. air operations against both enemy strategic targets and deployed forces. Among other objectives, the study aims to identify (1) conditions that enhance or limit the psychological effects of air operations, (2) how future U.S. air campaigns and psychological operations (PSYOP) might be best designed and employed to exploit fully the psychological potential of U.S. airpower, and (3) how the Air Force might increase its own capabilities and role in the psychological dimension of warfare.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA307075

Entities

People

  • Stephen T. Hosmer

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Civil War
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • Geography
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • Personnel Management
  • Second World War
  • Treaties
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Criminal Law
  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.