Lesson 4-1Lesson 4-1The Army Air CorpsThe Army Air Corps

Lesson 4-1Lesson 4-1The Army Air CorpsThe Army Air Corps

Lesson 4-1: The Army Air CorpsLesson 4-1: The Army Air CorpsLesson 4-1: The Army Air CorpsLesson 4-1: The Army Air Corps

Key Learning Goals:

Why was the Army Air Service createdWho was Billy Mitchell and what did he doDescribe key advancements in military aviation during

the 1920s and 1930sWhy did Army Air Service change to Army Air CorpsExplain the reasons it took so long for the Air Force to

become an independent service

Quick DiscussionQuick DiscussionQuick DiscussionQuick Discussion

The next slide will shows some of the some of The next slide will shows some of the some of the key milestones in aviation that you the key milestones in aviation that you learned about in the previous lesson.learned about in the previous lesson.

How many milestones can you recall?How many milestones can you recall?

Aviation Milestones after WWIAviation Milestones after WWIAviation Milestones after WWIAviation Milestones after WWI

1918 -- First Regular Airmail Service1918 -- First Regular Airmail Service 1923 -- First non-stop transcontinental flight1923 -- First non-stop transcontinental flight 1924 -- First Around-the-World Flight1924 -- First Around-the-World Flight 1926 -- First Polar flight1926 -- First Polar flight 1927 -- First non-stop transatlantic flight1927 -- First non-stop transatlantic flight 1929 -- First “Blind” flight1929 -- First “Blind” flight 1931 -- First non-stop transpacific flight1931 -- First non-stop transpacific flight 1933 -- First all-metal aircraft (B-247)1933 -- First all-metal aircraft (B-247) 1937 -- First successful helicopter flight1937 -- First successful helicopter flight

Quick DiscussionQuick DiscussionQuick DiscussionQuick Discussion

After WWI, most countries turned inward.After WWI, most countries turned inward.

Why?? Why??

What was happening to military aviation What was happening to military aviation after WWI?after WWI?

Quick DiscussionQuick DiscussionQuick DiscussionQuick Discussion

As a military pilot, you had some ideas about As a military pilot, you had some ideas about the future potential of the airplane, but all you the future potential of the airplane, but all you really wanted to do was keep flying. really wanted to do was keep flying.

To keep flying, what did you do after the war?To keep flying, what did you do after the war?

Why did the Army and Navy remain skeptical. Why did the Army and Navy remain skeptical.

After WWI, what did the President and After WWI, what did the President and Congress think the mission of the Army and Congress think the mission of the Army and Navy should be?Navy should be?

State of US Military after WWIState of US Military after WWIState of US Military after WWIState of US Military after WWI

Congress no longer emphasized national defense - WWI was the "War to end all Wars"

National defense based on three pillars: the Navy’s battle fleet the Navy’s coastal defenses the Army’s coastal defenses

Funds were in short supply after the war Army was tightfisted—didn’t want to pass $$ to its air arm Many in Army thought of aircraft as longer-range artillery

Military Air Power in the U.S.Military Air Power in the U.S. Military Air Power in the U.S.Military Air Power in the U.S.

1907-1914: The Aeronautical Division, US Army Signal Corps Started with balloons and added planes later

1914-1918: The Aviation Section, US Army Signal Corps It was up and running during World War I

1918-1926: Army Air Service, US Army An actual combat arm of the US Army Gave Air Service more control, but it still answered to Army generals

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You felt that the only way for aviation to achieve its You felt that the only way for aviation to achieve its full potential was to have aviators (pilots) command full potential was to have aviators (pilots) command pilotspilots

=> Become => Become independent of the Army and Navy of the Army and Navy

So how would you convince the President, Congress, So how would you convince the President, Congress, Army and Navy leaders?Army and Navy leaders?

Those of us in today’s Air ForceThose of us in today’s Air Forceowe a debt of gratitude to a single person owe a debt of gratitude to a single person who had a vision of the Air Force of the who had a vision of the Air Force of the future, who took his vision to American future, who took his vision to American people in the 1920s, and led the effort to people in the 1920s, and led the effort to create today’s United States Air Force. create today’s United States Air Force.

Billy MitchellBilly Mitchell

Those of us in today’s Air ForceThose of us in today’s Air Forceowe a debt of gratitude to a single person owe a debt of gratitude to a single person who had a vision of the Air Force of the who had a vision of the Air Force of the future, who took his vision to American future, who took his vision to American people in the 1920s, and led the effort to people in the 1920s, and led the effort to create today’s United States Air Force. create today’s United States Air Force.

Billy MitchellBilly Mitchell

Brig Gen Billy MitchellBrig Gen Billy MitchellBrig Gen Billy MitchellBrig Gen Billy Mitchell

Brig Gen Billy Mitchell believed that air power would be crucial to winning any future wars

He believed it would be easier to direct air power if the Air Service were equal in stature to the Army and Navy

An independent service would also get a larger share of government money

A Unique BiographyA Unique BiographyA Unique BiographyA Unique Biography

Born in 1879 in France and raised in Wisconsin Dad was a US Senator Enlisted in Army during 1898 Spanish-American

War and earned an officer’s commission While in Army Signal Corps in 1906, he predicted

future wars would be fought in the air Worked with Wright Brothers in 1908 in Virginia Learned how to fly during WWI Led 1500 aircraft against Germans at Saint-Mihiel Earned temporary rank of General in 1918

Demonstrations to Demonstrations to Gain Independent Air ForceGain Independent Air Force

Demonstrations to Demonstrations to Gain Independent Air ForceGain Independent Air Force

Mitchell launched a major public relations campaign for an independent air force

In 1921, he showed how aircraft could destroy naval ships

USS Iowa German U-117, G-102, Frankfurt, and Ostfriesland Navy admirals were not happy, but:

Convinced them they needed to build aircraft carriers

In 1923, Mitchell sunk two more battleships The USS New Jersey and USS Virginia

1923 non-stop flight across U.S. 1st Lt Oakley Kelly and 1st Lt John Macready Finally made New York to San Diego on third try 26 hours, 50 minutes 2,520 miles long

Lt. John A. Macready and

Lt. Oakley Kelly

Demonstrations to Demonstrations to Gain Independent Air ForceGain Independent Air Force

Demonstrations to Demonstrations to Gain Independent Air ForceGain Independent Air Force

In 1924, Mitchell wanted to show it was possible to fly around the world

Started and ended in Seattle, Washington 4 planes started 2 planes finished—the Chicago and New Orleans 26,345 miles 175 days

Demonstrations to Demonstrations to Gain Independent Air ForceGain Independent Air Force

Demonstrations to Demonstrations to Gain Independent Air ForceGain Independent Air Force

1924 transcontinental US flight in 1 day New York to San Francisco 1st Lt Russell Maughan in a Curtiss PW-8 aircraft

Why Important? Showed that if the country were attacked on its

coastlines, airplanes could fly in one day to defend it

Demonstrations to Demonstrations to Gain Independent Air ForceGain Independent Air Force

Demonstrations to Demonstrations to Gain Independent Air ForceGain Independent Air Force

Creation of the Army Air CorpsCreation of the Army Air CorpsCreation of the Army Air CorpsCreation of the Army Air Corps

1925 Morrow Board – a group of experts who made three important proposals:

Rename Army Air Service to Army Air Corps Give Army Air Corps a seat on the Army General Staff Appoint an assistant secretary of war for air power

July 2, 1926 -- The Air Corps Act becomes law

The Army Air CorpsThe Army Air CorpsThe Army Air CorpsThe Army Air Corps

Creation of the Army Air Corps was significant Boosted idea that the air arm was no longer only in

“service” to ground troops The Air Corps could conduct independent missions

Corps:Corps: A branch or department of the armed forces having a specialized function

Growth of the Army Air CorpsGrowth of the Army Air CorpsGrowth of the Army Air CorpsGrowth of the Army Air Corps

War shadows grew darker in Europe in 1938 January 12, 1939, FDR spoke to Congress

about the need to rebuild the US military Called US military forces “utterly inadequate”

In April, Congress approved increasing the number of pilots from 1,200 to 3,203

Civilian Flight SchoolsCivilian Flight SchoolsCivilian Flight SchoolsCivilian Flight Schools Maj Gen Henry “Hap” Arnold, knew the Air Corps

couldn’t train more than 550 pilots a year So, how to solve the problem?

Use civilian flight schools? Lawmakers said no, but Arnold went ahead with

his plan anyway July 1939--Congress finally

authorized contracts for civilian flight schools

Civilian Flight SchoolsCivilian Flight SchoolsCivilian Flight SchoolsCivilian Flight Schools

Step 1: Army physical and psychological test Step 2: Attend civilian flight school to earn pilot license Step 3: Military “check ride” Step 4: Begin combat training at an Army base

Civilian Reserve PilotsCivilian Reserve PilotsCivilian Reserve PilotsCivilian Reserve Pilots

In 1939 Air Corps tried another idea Civilian Pilot Training Program

Civilians could volunteer to become civilian pilots These pilots would be in “reserve” and available

in case of a national emergency By 1944, about 300,000 reserve pilots earned

their private-pilot certificates

African-American PilotsAfrican-American PilotsAfrican-American PilotsAfrican-American Pilots

Blacks not permitted in the Army Air Corps or in the Civilian Pilot Training Program

Two African-American pilots—Dale White and Chauncy Spencer—refused to accept this

In May 1939, they flew 3,000 miles to Washington D.C.

Convinced Senator Truman to get Congress involved March 22, 1941 -- The 99th Pursuit Squadron of

Tuskegee, Alabama, was born

Military Aircraft Development in 1930sMilitary Aircraft Development in 1930sMilitary Aircraft Development in 1930sMilitary Aircraft Development in 1930s

A main focus of the Army Air Corps Most airplane manufacturers were focusing on

commercial aircraft To get these manufacturers more involved in

military aircraft, Army Air Corps held design competition for a new multiengine bomber

In 1935, Boeing built the Boeing 299 (4-engine) and won the Army competition easily

The B-17The B-17The B-17The B-17

The Air Corps ordered 13 of the B299 aircraft and renamed the plane the B-17

Speed: 250 mph Range: 3300 miles Payload: 10,500 pounds Ceiling: 30,000 feet

The Air Corps could finally fly long-range strategic bombing missions using one of the most important aircraft of all time

The B-17The B-17The B-17The B-17

The B-17 at the time was faster than any pursuitpursuit aircraft or fighter plane in the US

Pursuit PlanesPursuit PlanesPursuit PlanesPursuit Planes

The B-17 made the Army realize that it needed better pursuit planes

It signed contracts for the Curtiss P-36 and the Seversky P-35 (The “P” stands for “pursuit”)

These aircraft would guard American bombers and attack enemy bombers

After Brig Gen Mitchell’s resignation in 1926, others, like Gen “Hap” Arnold carried on his ideas forward

With the B-17, Mitchell’s vision of long-range bombing missions could become a reality

Air power could be used as an offensive weapon

20 June 1941: Army Air Corps becomes Army Air Forces Remained under the command of the Army Could now oversee its own functions in combat, training, and

maintenance 1st Commander: Maj Gen “Hap” Arnold

The Air Force’s Path The Air Force’s Path Toward IndependenceToward IndependenceThe Air Force’s Path The Air Force’s Path Toward IndependenceToward Independence

Creation of GHQ Air ForceCreation of GHQ Air ForceCreation of GHQ Air ForceCreation of GHQ Air Force

In 1935, War Department formed a General Headquarters Air Force (GHQ)

GHQ remained in Air Corps and answered to Army GHQ would command the aerial combat arm Air Corps would retain training and logistical duties

GHQ set up at Langley Field, Virginia Langley today is where Air Combat Command is located

1st Commander of GQ: Gen Frank Andrews Andrews AFB is in Wash DC where Air Force One is

located

Creation of the United States Air ForceCreation of the United States Air ForceSept 18, 1947Sept 18, 1947

Creation of the United States Air ForceCreation of the United States Air ForceSept 18, 1947Sept 18, 1947

National Security Act of 1947 gave the Air Force complete autonomy and independence as an equal fighting force with the US Army and Navy

Next….Next….Next….Next….

Done—the Army Air Corps

Next—air power in World War II