NEW CASE TOPIC: THE EUROPEAN AIR WAR
The Warfare Mastery Institute (WMI) is excited to announce our second case topic which will cover the European Air War from 1939-1945 during the Second World War. The European Air War has received a great deal of attention over the years, particularly the Battle of Britain and the Combined Bomber Offensive. There are many great books and studies covering these topics. This work will build upon and augment the existing body of literature, particularly by adding informative maps and graphics that help learners understand how events unfolded. We also hope to explore certain subjects that are not covered as frequently, such as the evolution of close air support doctrine. An examination of such themes provides valuable lessons for military scholars and professionals alike and has many applications to the modern battlefield. The European Air War provides no shortage of subtopics for more detailed “case studies” and we plan to release a series of more detailed case study courses under the umbrella of this case topic in the future. For more information on our approach to dividing case topics from case studies click HERE.
Below is our general “roadmap” for building out the case topic project. As with all of our learning materials, we intend this case topic to be a series of “living” resources and documents that we will constantly improve, refine and upgrade over time with the help of our readers and scholar community (for more information about how we create “living” learning content click HERE). This general roadmap will offer an outline or structure that our writers, contributors and community members can use to develop new content and incorporate it into the larger body of learning materials. While the structure can and will evolve over time, we chose to start by focusing on the following themes.
THEME 1: STRATEGIC BOMBING AND TARGETING
The primary focus of the European Air War, on both sides, was trying to figure out ways to bomb the enemy into submission. Interwar theorists on air warfare made many predictions about how decisive strategic bombing could be. Many thinkers and leaders anticipated that bombers would be essentially unstoppable and dropping even a few bombs in a populated area would so terrorize the public that politicians would immediately sue for peace. As the war began, most interwar predictions about the effects of bombing proved to be entirely inaccurate.
The remainder of the air war became the story of a slow learning process about the true nature of strategic bombing and the best ways to use it to make an effective contribution to the overall war effort. This problem in many ways boiled down to a single concept: targeting. The key question was what targets to bomb and why. This case topic will examine how each side attempted to answer this question at various points in the war as well as the tactics and technology they used to execute the bombing missions themselves. Ultimately some approaches to targeting proved much more effective than others.
THEME 2: INTEGRATED AIR DEFENSE
There are two sides to every coin and the flip side of strategic bombing is integrated air defense. So, if the primary focus of the air war was effectively bombing the enemy, it was equally necessary to figure out how to stop the enemy from doing the same thing. The story of integrated air defense begins with Britain's valiant efforts to push back the German onslaught in 1940, but the Germans would soon find themselves applying many of the same tactics and lessons to defend the Reich against Allied bombers that came by day and night with increasingly effective results.
This course will examine the tactics that both sides used to defend their airspace and identify the most effective methods of combining sensors, early warning networks, command and control procedures, fighter intercept, combat air patrols and anti-aircraft artillery. The story of the evolution of air defense offers interesting examples of technological innovation and adaptability as both sides sought ways to gain the upper hand in the brutal struggle. Many of the lessons of integrated air defense are also timeless and could prove useful to developing better defensive postures in any domain of warfare, particularly when it comes to command and control, planning and the allocation of limited resources.
THEME 3: CLOSE SUPPORT FOR GROUND FORCES
While in many ways not as glamorous as the epic clashes between bombers and fighters at high-altitude, the evolution of ground-attack and Close Air Support (CAS) to front line troops was a critical part of the European Air War story. Many of the tactics, techniques and procedures for air-ground integration developed during the war are still used today. However, while the Germans started out having devoted more attention to CAS during the interwar period, the actual application of CAS in real-world combat proved to be a challenging and turbulent learning experience for both sides.
Studying the application of CAS in the European Air War offers many real-world examples of how air support can prove effective, ineffective or even counterproductive and dangerous. This case topic will identify CAS best-practices and critical errors at various points during the war. However, in some ways the more interesting story is to observe how both sides learned from their mistakes and developed sound CAS doctrine and procedures as the war was still raging around them. The story of the evolution of CAS capabilities on both sides is a story of battlefield learning and adaptation under fire which has wide-ranging relevance for all domains of conflict, not just air warfare. This case topic will examine what leadership styles, organizational designs and cultural factors either helped or hindered the ability to learn and adapt in war.
THEME 4: AIRCRAFT AND WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY
The case topic will look at the various aircraft and weapons on both sides that squared off against each other over Europe. In addition to providing reference materials about the performance and capabilities of each aircraft, we will focus on technological innovations in a "move-countermove" context. Many innovative technological solutions during the war emerged as deliberate counters to an enemy advantage. Such innovations in turn required the enemy to adapt. Just as leaders on the battlefield are locked in a contest of completing decision cycles, the same applied to the technological contest in the air war over Europe. Key mistakes in technological focus and unexpected creative solutions tipped the balance of the conflict one way or the other. This case topic will seek to highlight such points to better understand their significance and relevance to future conflicts.
THEME 5: LEADERS, ACES AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
The story of how leaders and organizational culture influenced the European Air War is not a simple one. When compared with other theaters or domains, the disparity between good leaders and bad leaders in the air war over Europe is particularly extreme. There are many examples of brilliant leaders making good decisions but an equal number of completely incompetent leaders making decisions that were completely irrational. Comparing and contrasting such examples of good and bad leadership, good and bad planning, good and bad decisions is fertile ground for military learning and professional development.
As in all theaters, aces on both sides played a disproportionately important role in turning the tide of battle. It is both interesting and useful to study such individuals, their traits, mindset and attributes to better understand what made them more effective than their counterparts. The harrowing stories and accounts of aces in combat also capture the intensity and exhilaration of the air war that captivated civilian onlookers at the time and ever since. In addition, learning about heroic deeds and great leaders is deeply inspiring and can ultimately provide sources of strength, power and meaning in our lives.
THEME 6: TACTICS AND AIR COMBAT
The tactical level of warfare is in many ways the most neglected area in books and learning materials. However, the details of how individual combatants found ways to win tactical engagements is extremely relevant to the study of warfare at all levels. Tactics are where the “rubber meets the road.” Without sound tactics, it is difficult for any military force to win on the battlefield. This case topic will therefore study the specifics of air combat tactics, how tactical techniques evolved on both sides and how they contributed to success or failure in the air. In short, this case topic will not just teach you about the events that took place in the air war over Europe but rather try to place you “in the cockpit” to show you how to fight, win and survive as a fighter pilot or bomber pilot.
