Pacific Theater in World War II

1. Pacific Theater inWorld War II

2. The Use of Airpower Against Japan: An Overview • Allied strategy to defeat Japan • Use of tactical airpower in the Pacific Theater • Use of strategic airpower in the Pacific Theater

3. The Air War Against JapanJapanese Objectives • Territorial expansion to reduce over-crowding at home and gain raw materials • Moved to fill the power vacuum in the Southwest Pacific created German aggression in Europe • Keep the US out of the war for 2 years with a knockout blow at Pearl Harbor • Underestimated American resolve and anger

4. Allied Strategy to Defeat Japan • China-Burma-India -- Japan’s back door • Campaign to resupply troops in China and recapture Southeast Asia • AAF flew the “hump” -- supply route over the Himalayas -- “A logistics triumph” • South Pacific Offensive -- Island hopping campaign led by General MacArthur • Central Pacific Offensive -- Island hopping campaign led by Admiral Nimitz

5. Tactical Airpower in the Pacific • Far East Air Force (FEAF) -- formed to support the South Pacific campaign • Made up of the 5th and 13th Air Forces • Used innovative techniques such as fragmentation bombs to interdict enemy positions and troops • Employed fighters and medium bombers, P-38 was a huge success • Won air superiority through a war of attrition

6. Tactical Airpower in the Pacific • First strategic raid 18 Apr 1942 • Jimmy Doolittle led flight of 16 bombers from the deck of the aircraft carrier, “Hornet” • 600 mile flight, did little damage, but boosted morale of US forces and shocked the Japanese • 20th Air Force was formed in 1944 specifically to bomb Japan • Initial results were poor due to high altitude bombing techniques

7. Tactical Airpower in the Pacific (Cont) • Jan 1945 -- General Arnold put Gen Curtis LeMay in charge of strategic bombing • Changed tactics to use incendiary bombs • Lowered bombing altitude to improve B-29s accuracy • Launched first firebomb attack of Tokyo on 9 Mar 45 -- 279 B-29s participated -- Burned 16 sq miles, destroyed 267,000 buildings and killed 83,000 people

8. Strategic Airpower in the Pacific The End of the War • President Truman authorizes nuclear strikes against Japan • 6 Aug 45 -- Hiroshima bombed - 70,000 killed • 9 Aug 45 -- Nagasaki bombed - 40,000 killed • Japan surrendered 15 Aug 1945 • WW II ended formally with ceremonies on the USS Missouri on 2 Sep 1945

9. Review of CFD Model • Competencies: Air and space expertise, capabilities and technological know-how that produces superior military capabilities • Functions: Broad, fundamental and continuing activities of air and space power • Doctrine: fundamental principles which military forces guide their actions in support of national objectives

10. CFD Model Application Competencies: Functions: Doctrinal Emphasis: Competencies: Functions: Doctrinal Emphasis: Information Gathering • Pre WWI: • Post WWI: Reconnaissance Artillery spotting, gathering military info for land forces Limited attack; info gather Counterattack; theater attack, reconnaissance Theater attack of mil targets

11. CFD Model Application • Limited attack • Information Gathering • Limited Air Superiority • Pre WWII: Competencies: Functions: Doctrinal Emphasis: • Reconnaissance • Counterair • Strategic Attack • Airlift Strategic attack on the enemy homeland (enemy war machine)

12. CFD Model Application • Limited attack • Information Gathering • Air Superiority • Limited Agility Combat Support • Post WWII: Competencies: Functions: Doctrinal Emphasis: • Counter land • Counter sea • SAR • Special Ops • Reconnaissance • Counterair • Strategic Attack • Airlift Strategic attack