Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Michael E. Ryan Commander, Air Education and Training Command Gen Lloyd W. Newton Commander, Air University Lt Gen Joseph J. Redden Commander, College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research, and Education Col Robert M. Hylton Editor Lt Col James W. Spencer Senior Editor Maj Michael J. Petersen Associate Editor Dr. Doris Sartor Professional Staff Hugh Richardson, Contributing Editor Marvin W. Bassett, Contributing Editor Mary J. Moore, Editorial Assistant Joan Hickey, Editorial Assistant Steven C. Garst, Director o f Art and Production Daniel M. Armstrong, Illustrator L. Susan Fair, Illustrator Mary P. Ferguson, Prepress Production Manager The Airpower Journal, published quarterly, is the professional flagship publication of the United States Air Force. It is designed to serve as an open forum for the presentation and stimulation of innovative thinking on military doctrine, strat­ egy, tactics, force structure, readiness, and other matters of national defense. The views and opinions expressed or implied in the Journal are those of the authors and should not be con­ strued as carrying the official sanction of the Department of Defense, the Air Force, Air Ed­ ucation and Training Command, Air University, or other agencies or departments of the US government. Articles in this edition may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. If they are reproduced, the Airpower Journal requests a courtesy line. JOURNAL Spring 1998______________________Volume XII, No. 1__________________ AfRP 10-1 In Search of High Ground: The Airpower Trinity and the Decisive Potential of Airpower............... 4 Lt Col David K. Edmonds. USAF FEATURES Transformational Leaders and Doctrine in an Age of Peace: Searching for a Tamer Billy M itchell............... 22 Maj William C. Rynecki, USAFR The Development of Royal Air Force Strategic Bombing Doctrine between the Wars: A Revolution in Military Affairs?...................................................................... 37 Dr. Scot Robertson Fodder for Professional Development: Reference Works for the Air Warrior/Scholar................... 53 Dr David R. Mets Peering through Different Bombsights: Military Historians, Diplomatic Historians, and the Decision to Drop the Atomic B o m b ................... 66 Dr. Jeffery J. Roberts Is Character Still an Issue?........................................................ 79 Maj Carl D. Rehberg, USAF Did USAF Technology Fail in Vietnam? Three Case Studies...................................................................... 87 Kenneth P. Werrell DEPARTMENTS Flight Lines ................................................................................. 2 Ricochets and R ep lies............................................................... 3 Way Points..................................................................................... 100 Net Assessment .......................................................................... 106 Mission D e b rie f.......................................................................... 126 Flight Lines ^ Lt C o l Ja m e s W. Sp en c e r , Ed it o r Giants in the Land! HESE DAYS IT SEEMS that everyone has an is limited to those who own one." If I owned op-ed on the problems with the military. some of the press, I wouldn't sleep at night. TThey warn of giants in the land: the decline of Although its commentaries are fun to read, the the warrior culture, caving in to feminism, and media isn't convincing anyone on this story attacks on the relevance of character and values. for us. Besides, you should "never argue with I enjoy reading them as much as you do. My people who buy ink by the barrel." favorites—Kate O'Beime (National Review), Wal­ We need to hear from you on this subject ter McDougall (Commentary), Wesley Pruden, very soon. From what we've seen already, we and Suzanne Fields (Washington Times)—pack­ could conclude that there are giants in the age their reasoning in something instructor pi­ land. Sensitive to the dialectic, we could be lots hopefully gave up years ago: fear, sarcasm, wrong. Give us something we can run. Need a and ridicule. Unfortunately for many of you, we place to start? Consider the advice of Merrit can't publish fear, sarcasm, and ridicule. We Malloy: "What we might consider is how we report our ideas in a format that's sensitive to are good rather than how good we are." the dialectic—we present both sides. We need you to come forward with cogent arguments that are well researched and docu­ Of Legacies and Hope mented to prove that the warrior culture—the American fighting man’s and woman's way of When I received the singular honor of be­ war—is or isn't on its way out. Are we too ing selected for this position, I was once again hunkered down in our "don't ask/don't tell" experiencing the rare privilege of living out a or counterfeminist revetments to even com­ chosen dream. The dream has since become ment? We've received a number of innova­ reality, and the three complete volumes of tively thoughtful spleen-ventings, but usually Airpower Journal that record my name as editor all we can offer in response is some gel caps. will be conveniently easy to point to someday Your ideas need to be professionally pre­ on a distant library shelf. Collectively, they sented, or they're no better than the "I feel represent—in microcosm—the professional era better" pieces that run in Air Force Times. they chronicled. We've said it before—scholarship and passion Having had the very great fortune of working are not mutually exclusive. as caretaker of the professional dialogue during The media types are running polemic after General Fogleman's tenure as chief of staff, I can polemic, castigating our civilian leadership. A understand why it's easy to see our success. From large percentage of the executive branch and the confusion of our information-warfare cover Congress lack military service, but the media on the Spring 1995 issue, to the clarity of four isn't going to convince them of the existence colors, to the expansion in our size and editorial of any cultural incorrectness if the media's focus, to the advocacy of a reinvigorated edito­ support resembles flubber. In the early part of rial-board process, to flagship publication this century, A. J. Liebling first popularized the status, to the increased readership garnered by notion of criticizing the free press. A reporter our award-winning web site, it's easy to see why himself, he once said, "Freedom of the press we're pleased with this body of work. 2 RICOCHETS 3 All commanders or division chiefs desire to top pilot-training graduates who won't be conclude their tour of duty with a planned fighter pilots? If the new chief completes his departure or a scheduled change-of-command tour on time, will it mean that he will have ceremony. It appears mine will end that way acquiesced in the face of similar circum­ in the next several months. That's part of the stances? process of being selected to the next higher What hope is there for my successors? I've grade—an experience I share with only three taken the risk of more than slightly annoying other incumbents in the 50-year history of the Washington elite by happily engaging in USAf professional journals. controversial dialogue, but I did so under the It doesn't seem right that General Fogle- provision of top cover—from the chief of staff man's departure was more hastily arranged. on down. Nevertheless, we inexorably remain Although he confidently predicted that his a wholly owned subsidiary of the parent com­ action would be a "one-day" media event, the pany that could, and should, remain the object lingering effects of the professional echoes he of routine criticism from our published ideas. left behind continue to gently remind us of Will my successors commute to work wearing how right he was for our times and how good any less of a smile than mine? he was for our service. Members of Congress Privately, I'll appropriately thank the people bristled over the general's nerve (synonym for at Air University and the College of Aerospace m ettle or grit), but it seems as if the Washing­ Doctrine, Research, and Education who have ton elite has been only slightly annoyed by supported me so well. But when I leave, I will one man of principle whose earlier-than-ex- pay them no greater honor than to declare to pected retirement represents a casual irritant you that not once was I told what to print and to agendas that rarely included his stock-in- not once was I told how to print it by anyone trade—his military advice. in my chain of command. That is the best What hope is there for his successor? legacy any incumbent could leave. That is the Should we ask the 107 highly promotable legacy I hope for my successors—and for their captains who won't be majors or the scores of chiefs of staff. □ We encourage your comments via letters to the editor ment Doctrine prior to the Battle of Britain" or comment cards. All correspondence should be (Summer 1997), Capt Alexus Grynkewich mis­ addressed to the Editor, Airpower Journal, 401 Chen- took the state of Air Corps attack aviation in nault Circle, Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6428. You can 1939. He wrote that "the Air Corps needed the also send your comments by E-mail to ed i- parenthetical clarification due to the lack of [email protected]. We reserve the right to edit dedicated attack aircraft in its own inventory" the material for overall length. (page 61). I take exception to this statement. The following attack aviation units were in the NO ATTACK? Air Corps at that time: 3d Attack Group, Barksdale Field, Louisiana (8th, 13th, and 90th I am concerned about the quality of the arti­ Attack Squadrons); 17th Attack Group, March cles that are released by your publication. In Field, California (34th, 73d, and 95th Attack the article "'Handmaid' of the Army? The American Perception of German Bombard­ Continued on page 104 In Search of High Ground The Airpower Trinity and the Decisive Potential of Airpower Lt Col David K.