AWPD-1 Air War Plans Division

raf air vice-marshal john slessor proposed combined anglo-american strategic bombing campaign.

in 1941, american, canadian , british war planners convened in washington d.c. series of secret planning sessions called american–british conference, or abc-1, determine course of action should united states become belligerent in war. overarching strategy of europe first agreed to, american energies directed against germany, italy , european conquests, during secondary defensive posture held against japan. royal air force air vice-marshal john slessor , other airmen present @ conference agreed on general concept of using strategic bombing both british , american air units based in united kingdom reduce axis military power in europe. incorporating work in april 1941, joint u.s. army-navy board developed rainbow 5, final version of general military guidelines u.s. follow in case of war.

kenneth walker

at beginning of august 1941, awpd consisted of 4 officers: harold l. george, orvil anderson, kenneth walker (each 1 lieutenant colonel), , major haywood s. hansell. answer urgent need planning, george have sent couple of air officers wpd assist them, following standard army policy since air warfare first arose in world war i. air plan have been made emphasizing tactical air coordination ground forces, 1 targeted axis military formations , supplies in preparation , support of invasion. george wished implement strategic bombing theories had been debated , refined @ air corps tactical school (acts) during preceding decade, faced sure knowledge army , war department not accept strategy assumed air attack prevail alone. instead, george intended implement middle path began strategic air attack contained allowances eventual support of ground invasion. in requesting autonomy make own plans, george gained approval general arnold , general leonard t. gerow, head of overworked wpd, approved long awpd held guidelines of abc-1 , rainbow 5.

laurence s. kuter



haywood s. hansell

george sought out men knew bombing advocates. obtained temporary 5 more air officers: lieutenant colonels max f. schneider , arthur w. vanaman, , majors hoyt s. vandenberg, laurence s. kuter , samuel e. anderson. samuel e. anderson had passed through acts precision bombing theories ascendant. orvil anderson assigned continue ongoing projects while rest of men concentrated on new request. on 4 august 1941 augmented awpd set work.

george, walker, kuter , hansell provided key concepts awpd task force. george s vision plan should not simple list of quantities of men , materiel—it should clear expression of strategic direction required win war use of air power. main feature of plan proposal use massive fleets of heavy bombers attack economic targets, choke points of axis industry. hansell, fresh fact-finding mission england in briefed on british appreciations of german industrial , military targets, became immersed in job of target selection.

munitions requirements of army air forces defeat our potential enemies, or awpd-1, standing air war plans division, plan number 1 , first concrete result of awpd; delivered on 12 august after 9 days of preparation. plan used industrial web theory describe how air power used attack vulnerable nodes in germany s economy, including electrical power systems, transportation networks, , oil , petroleum resources. civil population of berlin targeted final step achieving enemy capitulation, such attack optional: no special bombardment unit [would be] set purpose.

the plan described, in less detail, how use air power draw defensive perimeter around western hemisphere , around america s interests in alaska, hawaii, dutch east indies , philippines in pacific ocean. in atlantic, awpd indicated bases developed in iceland, newfoundland , greenland augment bases in united kingdom. elsewhere, bases established in india , staging areas arranged in siberia.

finally, plan detailed large tactical air formations assist in invasion of europe , fight in land campaigns follow, ready spring 1944—the same time invasion forces ready.

army chief of staff general george marshall approved awpd-1 in september, did secretary of war stimson. army planners worried both soviet union , united kingdom defeated, , invasion of europe become remote. strategy of weakening germany bombing, long before invasion prepared, gave hope america not lose allies in interim.