Maximizing the Psychological Effects of Airpower: Lessons from Past Wars.

Abstract

The psychological effects of air operations can help shorten wars and reduce their costs, particularly in lives. In some conflict situations, these effects may in fact exceed the physical effects in importance. In Psychological Effects of U.S. Air Operations in Four Wars, 1941-1991: Lessons for U.S. Commanders, Stephen T. Hosmer focuses on two types of air operations: (1) those aimed at strategic targets and (2) those aimed at deployed forces; whose psychological effects may significantly reduce the duration and intensity of an enemy's resistance. The research drew on interrogations of enemy deserters and prisoners of war and on other data to examine the psychological effects of air operations in the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf wars and, to a lesser extent, World War 2. Analysis of these wars yielded lessons on how U.S. commanders might prepare for, plan, and conduct psychologically effective air operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA322242

Entities

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Army Personnel
  • Battlefields
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Interrogation
  • Military Operations
  • Persian Gulf
  • Persian Gulf War
  • Prisoners
  • Prisoners Of War
  • Psychological Operations
  • Second World War
  • Strategic Attack
  • United States
  • War
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Systems Analysis and Design