The Effect of the Air Force in World War Two
“Off we go into the wild blue yonder, Climbing high into the sun, Here they come zooming to meet our thunder, at em’ boys give er’ the gun, Give er’ the gun.” The previous lines are the first part to the official United States Air Force song. The Air Force has played a huge role in all of our wars past, and current. But World War two was by far one of the first shining moments in Air Force history. The effect the Air Force had on the war was great, “The Navy can lose us the war, but only the Air Force can win it.” (Winston Churchill)
On December 17, 1903 the first ever powered flying machine named the Kitty Hawk was successfully tested by the Wright Brothers. Three and a half years later on August 1, 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corps formed the first aeronautical division in the military (History of the Air Force Part 1). During World War One American planes were still very primitive compared to the other nations; most skilled American pilots were flying French planes because they were more advanced and trustworthy than their own American planes. And thanks to the Army Reorganization Act of 1920 that made the Air Service a combat arm of the military, and in 1926 the Air Corps Act was established and the Air Service changed its name to the Air Corps on July 2nd 1926 (History of the Air Force Part 2). After Adolf Hitler kicked off World War two by invading Poland, The Army Air Corps began a steady growth from twenty six thousand and less than two thousand air craft to eighty thousand air craft and over two point four million personal.
Coming into World War two the United States realized that as an air power we were still very behind in technology, so in an effort to compete with foreign ...
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...llied powers win the war. The Air Corps became so important that after World War two the United States Army Air Corps officially became the United States Air Force and became its own separate branch in September of 1947 to let the Army focus on ground war and let the Air Force focus entirely on the air war.
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As the American economy was gradually recovering thanks to the New Deal, Roosevelt decided to increase interaction with neighboring countries. When the Second World War began, Roosevelt saw it as an opportunity to increase production and boost America’s economy. During the 1930 to 1940s, the production of munitions greatly increased. The Second World War significantly increased American economic interaction with South America, Great Britain, and Canada. This lead to greater relations between Latin America and a faster victory as U.S. citizens began to see a shift in economic, political, and social ideals.
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World War II, also known as the Second World War was fought by Japan, Germany and Italy, also referred to as the Axis powers; that went against the Allies that consisted of the United States, the Soviet Union, and Britain with help from others. 60 to 80 billion deaths were the result of World War II ("Reasons for American Entry Into WWII"). Initially the United States did not want to interfere with a war going on in a different continent. At the start of the war America began a state of isolationism which kept America away from the war; until its “breaking point”. America’s deviation from isolationism in World War II is what establishes them as a powerhouse country economically an. Also, how America’s growth industrially lead to a post-war boom.
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World War II was one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. There were many different battles that took place within this war; some more important than others. World War II began once Germany’s new dictator, Adolf Hitler, decided that he wanted to gain power for Germany and for himself. One of Hitler’s first moves in power was invading Poland on September 1, 1939. Many other countries became involved in this war because of the alliance system. The two sides during this war were the Allies and Axis powers. German, Italy and Japan were on the Axis powers; France, Britain, and the United States were on the Allies. Germany first began with the Blitzkrieg tactic meaning “lightning war”. This tactic is based on speed, surprise and was the most popular tactic. It is set up with military forces based around tanks which are supported by planes and infantry. The Blitzkrieg tactic lead to air wars with airplanes between countries. All of the countries were allowed to participate in the air wars but the four main countries were United States, Japan, Britain, and Germany. During the 1920’s and 1930’s airplanes grew in size and structure giving them more power, and making planes more effective. Planes made it easier to drop bombs, or plan attacks. All of these countries fought over air superiority. Air superiority is the position in which the air force has control over all of the air warfare and air power of the opposing forces. Germany began with air superiority but they lost it when Britain defeated them at the Battle of Britain. Gaining control over the air is a very big advantage because it is easier to plan an attack on an opposing country. All of the countries relied on their aircrafts during this war. The issue about the use of...
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