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Lesson Index: [ Introduction | Lesson Objective | Overview | Early Perspective of War | Rise of Total War | WWI Perspective | Context for Airpower | Aircraft as a Military Tool | Aircraft for Strategic Effects | Early Airpower Theorists | Aipower Theorists—Douhet | Douhet’s Theory | Implications of Douhet’s Theory | Douhet’s Impact | Aipower Theorists—Trenchard | Trenchard’s Theory | Implications of Trenchard’s Theory | Trenchard’s Impact | Aipower Theorists—Mitchell | Mitchell’s Theory | Implications of Mitchell’s Theory | Mitchell’s Impact | Mitchell’s Legacy | Summary | Quiz ]
Title: Implications of Douhet’s Theory
Action: A picture of Douhet appears screen left. The following list of links to pop-up boxes appears screen right. The text of the pop-up boxes follows:
In order to bring about victory over the enemy before your own civil morale collapses, you must organize airpower under a separate air force.
Other armed forces will only stand on the defensive until the air force offensive has been decisive.
The army and navy will be structured to achieve economy of force. All the mass possible will be built into the air force.
Only one type of airplane is required—the battle plane. It will be of moderate speed, long range, and heavily armored for self-protection. If escort protection is required, battle planes will be made part of the strike package, armed only with self-defensive weapons. Everything not put into the battle plan is a diversion that weakens the main effort and reduces the probability of success. Battles plane would have a combination of high-explosive, incendiary, and gas bombs to have a synergistic effect.
Voice: Douhet’s ideas regarding the role of airpower contained several implications regarding the use of airpower in the conduct of warfare. A summary of his implications can be viewed by passing your cursor over each of the bullets below.