Eighth Air Force Bombing 20-25 February 1944: How Logistics Enabled "Big Week" To Be "Big"

Abstract

Eighth Air Force (8AF) conducted the US's first thousand-bomber raids against Germany in February 1944--recorded in history as Big Week. Until that time the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was not able to concentrate such firepower on the enemy in such a short period of time. It took much effort to make Big Week "big" covering the spectrum of planning and execution activities dating back to the end of World War I that were adapted and flexed to be successful in a different context. Indeed, the depth and breadth of the preparations required to successfully execute Big Week on the scale intended is deserving of a closer examination. Sources include books and periodicals from the Fairchild Library and the Air Command and Staff College curriculum as well as several primary source documents from the archives of the Air Force Historical Research Agency. Information from 1918 through 1947 was reviewed and analyzed in order to produce a thorough review of the components within the operational art element of logistics and the contextual elements that influenced preparations for and execution of Big Week. Leadership from President Roosevelt to first line supervisors influenced 8AF logistics before February 1944. Major General Hugh J. Knerr was the one man that stood out as the champion of USAAF logistics. He influenced the concept of logistical operations in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) and, more specifically, put logistics on a level of importance equal to that of operations within the United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF). He synchronized logistics with operations and strove for constant improvement by making organizational and process changes aimed at increasing logistical responsiveness, effectiveness, and efficiency.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA425032

Entities

People

  • Jon M. Sutterfield

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Business Administration
  • Congress
  • Governments
  • Industrial Mobilization
  • Logistics
  • Maintenance
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Organizations
  • Munitions
  • Personnel Management
  • Procurement
  • Second World War
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.