Evening star., 1940-05-25
Pursuif-bomber Air
Force Indicates
5tay-at-Home War
Decision on These Two
Principal Types Would
Add Defensive Power
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
The anticipated, decision by the
Army Air Corps to concentrate its
air-defense program on the produc-
ton of two combat types Of air
planes-pursuit and bombardment-
will constitute an event of almost
revolutionary Importance in Ameri-
can air defense and at the same
time will serve notice on the worlds S
military powers that the whole mis-
sion Of United States air power
is to guarantee the integrity Of the
Western Hemisphere against all ag-
gression, In the opinion of military
authorities.
Such an air force would be de-
signed basically for defense of the
United States and its neighbor re-
pubhcs and, by its nature, would
be relatively inefficient for assign
ment to such melee of air and
ground forces as now is in progress
in Europe.
The bombardment-pursuit all
force would be of maximum eff
cheney for its intended defense mis-
sion-the denying of foothold
anywhere in the New World to an
European or Asiatic aggressor OF
any combination of the totalitarian
powers, or the breaking up of an
enemy expeditionary force by all
or sea.
Other Types Represented.
The decision to concentrate on a
pursuit. -bombardment air force, in
about $3.50 proportions, is regarded
as almost certain to result from
emergency studies now being made
by military authorities in antici-
patton Of the launching of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's 50,000- 0-airplane pro-
gram. This program also would
include thousands of observation
and reconnaissance airplanes, which
are not classed as combat types
and are not considered as a part
OF the air force proper, although
they are essential to efficient air
force operation as well as to eff
cient ground and sea operations.
The decision would mean aban-
donment of the attack airplane as
an independent type and would re-
suit in the immediate further de-
velopment of a light bombardment
alrplane which would in some de-
gree be the defensive counterpart
OF the famous German Stukas-the
''bitzkrieg airplane"-a purely Of
fensive type of tremendous power.
The attack airplane, a type de-
veloped by the United States Army
Air Corps following the World War,
has been manufactured in large
numbers in the past and is the
weapon of many squadrons of the
General Headquarters Air Force.
Against Ground Troops.
The attack type is an outgrowth
Of the "ground-strafing" tactics of
the World War. It is designed ex-
clusively for use against ground
troops on the battlefield, troop COL
umns in the advance zone, tanks
and armored cars, machine-gun
nests and artillery. The attack
squadron flies habitually at the low
est possible altitude, just off the
treetops. It employs light bombs,
machine guns and chemicals with
equal effectiveness, usually in COM
bination and relies on surprise to
make its deadly attacks effective.
In these respects it is used ex-
actly as the Germans are employ
ing their Stukas over the battle
fields. The German dive bombers,
however, are being used for more
diversified purposes than those for
which our attack airplanes were
designed. They are employed in
waves by the Germans for the
bombing of targets, which are the
exclusive objective of present United
States bombers.
Abandoning of the attack airplane
type may be taken as indicative of
q change of policy on the part of
United States air power, since it
means that the Air Corps has been
relieved of a major part of its
"ground-strafing" role. This role
1t would be called upon to play only
IN fighting an active ground army,
as would be the case if the United
States Army were to organize an
expeditionary force for duty abroad
IN such a battle as that now raging
in Europe.
Gives Hint Of Policy.
In other words, by dropping the
attack airplane as a distinct type,
the Army Air Corps expresses it's
confidence that it never will be
called upon to fight a ground army
OF a powerful enemy in this hemi-
sphere and asserts, as matter Of
policy, that it will not be organized
to fight extensively in Europe or
Asia.
But, by concentrating on pursuit
and bombardment types, the Air
Corps will arm itself to meet with
the utmost power any attempt to
invade the New World by air or
sea. It's whole mission has become
the smashing of any enemy before
he can land ground army in the
Americas.
The bombardment airplanes to be
constructed under this new policy
would be of types which could be
used at long range against an
enemy navy or troop transports
within 1000 miles of our coasts.
They also would be of types suit
able for blasting out of existence
air bases an aggressive enemy might
attempt to establish by air. A third
type of bombardment airplane
would be suitable for general utility
purposes and, to some extent, would
replace the obsolete attack air.
plane. It could be used, if neces-
sary, against parachute troops,
landing parties from a fleet, or pos
sible offensive units of the fifth
column, or Trojan horse" type.
The three types of bombardment
airplanes upon which the United
States is expected to rely under its
new defense program, therefore,