Slim Chance: The Pivotal Role of Air Mobility in the Burma Campaign
Abstract
This study applies lessons learned from air mobility s pivotal role in Field Marshal Sir William Slim s World War II Burma campaign to contemporary air mobility operations. It begins by tracing the evolution of air mobility from its pre World War I roots to the Second World War, noting how its development proceeded despite the lack of coherent, codified doctrine. Next it assesses Slim s Burma campaign and how the key elements of organization, training, and leadership apart from air mobility proved critical to Allied victory. Building upon this, the discussion turns to air mobility s contributions to Slim s joint campaign. From this analysis, the study identifies the tenets of air superiority, organization, and air mobility normalization as being critical and enduring airpower lessons from the Burma theater. The closing chapters offer a primer on contemporary mobility operations before arguing that modern air mobility practitioners must account for five key essentials: superiority across the air and space domains, proper organization that promotes relationship building at the operational level of war, normalization of the complete air mobility supply chain and its accompanying idea of air mobility mindedness, training focused on increased interoperability, and the vital role of leadership.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA601851
Entities
People
- Derek M. Salmi
Organizations
- Air University