Air Power as Affected by Airdrome Construction

Air Power as Affected by Airdrome Construction

by S.D. Sturgis, Jr., Brigadier General, U.S. Army

Reprinted from The Military Engineer for August and September 1948

The primary mission of the Army Engineers is to “facilitate the advance” of the combat forces. It is the primary mission of the Aviation Engineers to “facilitate the advance” of air power. For example, the decisive application of air power against Japan was accomplished by successively “advancing the fighter line” along axes 6,000 to 8,000 miles in length—sometimes penetrating the enemy’s positions as much as 800 to 1,000 miles—and then, converting this line into bomber bases from which great destructive power could be brought to bear upon vital enemy targets. By numerous repetitions of this cycle, operations in the Southwest and Central Pacific Theaters finally placed our forces within striking distance of the Japanese war potential.

10 Pages

1 map

2 photos

6 tables/charts