The Pegasus, The Dragon, and Air Power: Winged Myths?

Abstract

This monograph addresses the concept that air power can win a war alone. It reviews key air power theorists who have had a significant impact on U.S. air power thought in order to understand the theoretical basis for the idea that air power can win a war alone. The monograph then reviews several air campaigns from World War II to the present to determine if there is any evidence to support the theory that a war can be won solely through air power. The monograph argues that air power is not capable of delivering decision alone. It also argues that air power is not the preeminent arm of the U.S. military, but is a system within a system that is the U.S. military.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 21, 1998
Accession Number
ADA356946

Entities

People

  • Henry A. Arnold

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Anti-Aircraft Weapons
  • Bombing
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Force Levels
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Second World War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies