US AAC/AAF Doctrine: FM 1-10, Air Attack, 1940 - 1. General

CHAPTER I GENERAL

SECTION I: NATURE OF AIR ATTACK

1. DEFINITION.-Air attack is the attack of objectives on the earth's surface by aircraft.

2. SCOPE.-a. This manual contains in brief form the technical and tactical doctrines for the employment of the means provided in the Army Air Corps to accomplish air attack.

b. In applying the doctrines governing air attack set forth in this manual, they will be interpreted in the light of the Rules of Land Warfare and of the restrictions imposed by ratified treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is a signatory power.

3. FUNCTIONS.-a. The successful prosecution of a war or military campaign requires the attack of objectives which are vital to the enemy. The purpose of air attack is to destroy or neutralize surface objectives, particularly those which cannot be reached effectively by other weapons. Destruction of a material objective is accomplished by breaking down the structure so that it must be abandoned, replaced, or extensively repaired before it can again be used by the enemy. Material objectives may be neutralized or rendered useless to the enemy by air attacks that do not completely break down or destroy their structures. Highways, railroads, or area targets are not readily susceptible to complete destruction but may be neutralized by the destruction of essential parts. Material objectives may be neutralized against immediate use if rendered only temporarily ineffective or useless. Personnel may be rendered ineffective by the neutralization of material objectives required for their effective employment. Hostile troops may be temporarily neutralized by air attacks for demoralization.

b. A major strategic function to be accomplished by air attack will be the destruction of enemy aviation facilities and of enemy aircraft at its bases, whether land or sea.

4. DOCTRINE OF EMPLOYMENT.-a. A thorough understanding of the powers and limitations of aviation used to accomplish air attacks is essential to correct strategical and tactical employment. As a basis for sound employment, appropriate commanders must know the capabilities of their equipment and operating personnel and be familiar with the circumstances under which they must function.

b. Air attack extends the sphere of operations to include vital objectives within enemy territory, limited only by the radius of action of the air forces employed.

c. (1) Air attack by aviation in support of ground forces may generally be applied most effectively by blocking or delaying movements of reserves, disrupting lines of communication, or otherwise isolating the battlefield from enemy reinforcements and supplies.

(2) Air attack supports the operations of armored forces by neutralizing antitank guns; destroying tank traps or other tank menaces; attacking hostile mechanized forces seeking to engage friendly forces; and by attacking various hostile establishments in conjunction with armored forces.

SECTION II: OBJECTIVES FOR AIR ATTACK

5.  GENERAL.-a. Strategic objectives for air attack include elements of the enemy's armed forces, and facilities and establishments which support the operations of those forces and the enemy national structure.

Knowledge of the specific situation is essential to a determination of the relative importance of objectives for airattack. Each objective must be considered not only in the light of the information available or required for its attack, but also as to the probable immediate and ultimate contribution to the accomplishment of the national aim, to be secured by air attack.

c. Objectives for air attack in counter air force operations include

(1) Air bases, including aircraft carriers and tenders.

(a) Aircraft.

(b) Munitions, fuel, and other essential supplies.

(c) Personnel.

(d) Landing areas.

(e) Installations and facilities, such as those for shelter, administration, storage, communication, and repair.

(2) Rail, water, and motor communication essential for the supply of aviation forces.

(3) Supply and repair depots.

d. Objectives for air attack in operations against ground forces include

(1) Hostile aviation supporting their ground and base facilities.

(2) Logistical establishments.

(3) Communication essential for the movement of personnel and materiel.

(4) Equipment and supplies.

(5) Fortifications.

(6) Trucks, trailers, armored vehicles, and artillery.

(7) Troops, especially armored and motorized.

e. Objectives for air attack in operations against naval forces include

(1) Armed naval vessels.

(2) Naval supply ships and transport.

(3) Naval bases.

f. Objectives for air attack in operations against joint ground and naval forces include troop transports, cargo and escort vessels, as well as shore weapons, troop concentrations, and installations.

g. Objectives for air attack in operations against war means include rail, water, and motor transportation systems; power plants, transmission lines, and other utilities; factories and processing plants, steel mills, oil refineries, and other similar establishments.

6. SELECTION.-a. The essence of air attack lies in the selection of proper objectives. The basic characteristic of air forces - freedom of action - normally affords a wide choice in such selection.

b. Selection of objectives or system of objectives for an air offensive is a responsibility of the commander of the field forces. Designation of objectives to be attacked may be delegated to subordinate commanders who will be guided in their designations and priorities of attack by the general aim or plan of the higher commander.

c. A system of objectives against which an air offensive is to be directed is selected as result of a thorough estimate of the existing situation. Once selected, the system of objectives is adhered to in order to realize the cumulative effect derived by the destruction of individual components of the system.

7. NATURE.-Air attacks may be directed against a wide variety of objectives ranging from the most massive material objects, such as fortifications, steel and reinforced concrete buildings, heavy bridges, and battleships, to such fragile objects as light materiel and personnel. The nature of the objective is the important factor in determining the most suitable type of fire to employ and the best method by which to effect the attack.

8. CLASSIFICATION.-Bombardment objectives may be fixed, transient, or fleeting in character.

a. Fixed. Permanent structures which are not normally subject to movement are classified as fixed objectives. This class of objectives includes permanent buildings, standard railway systems, the massive bridges of improved highway systems, factories, oil refineries, power plants, permanent docks, structures pertaining to canals or inland waterways, and all other permanent installations. Information of the location and nature of fixed objectives may be obtained during peacetime, and plans prepared for their attack during initial air operations.

b. Transient.-Structures and facilities that are of a temporary nature and subject to movement are classified as transient objectives. This classification includes temporary military installations, such as supply depots, ammunition dumps, ponton bridges, and various other objects which do not possess the power of motion. Information of such objectives must be collected during war. Transient objectives may be attacked either pursuant to orders or in accordance with indoctrination, depending upon their importance in specific situations.

c. Fleeting.-Objects which possess the power of motion are classified as fleeting objectives. Vehicles of all kinds, water craft, aircraft, troops, and equipment of all types are fleeting objectives. Time usually is an important factor in the attack of fleeting objectives. The extent to which indoctrination must be depended upon in conducting operations against fleeting objectives varies with the degree of their mobility. Formation commanders should be given the greatest possible freedom of action in the conduct of air attack against fleeting objectives.

9. OBJECTIVE FOLDERS.-The Chief of the Air Corps is responsible for initiating objective folders (files of information) pertaining to fixed objectives in all probable theaters of operation. The folder will contain all obtainable information pertinent to the planning or execution of air attack of a given objective, together with a brief resume of the tactical or strategical value to the enemy of such objective. Objective folders, pertaining to fixed objectives, which are developed after hostilities are begun will be prepared, distributed, and used in accordance with instructions of the commander of the field forces.

a. When operations in a given theater are imminent, the data assembled for a particular objective are forwarded to the wing or task force headquarters concerned. There they are studied and notation made of any further information needed. Information necessary for completion of a pertinent folder is then listed on the appropriate G–2 plan, along with essential elements of enemy information, and is so carried until the necessary information has been collected. Folders are retained in the files of the wing or task force until such time as the actual attack of specific objectives can be foreseen, when they are forwarded to the proper unit (group or squadron) for study and preparation of attack plan. Information affecting specific folders will be forwarded by higher head-quarters to units charged with their custody. The latter are responsible for keeping folders up to date and will notify higher headquarters of all changes thereto made by them. The initiation, preparation, maintenance, and file of objective folders in a theater are intelligence functions.

b. It is desirable that the folder contain an analysis of the objective, the critical areas for attack, appropriate size of bombs, type of fuze and fuze setting, number of hits required for destruction or neutralization, and, when practicable, the nature and location of antiaircraft defenses. Pilots and bombardiers should be thoroughly familiar with the contents of pertinent objective folders prior to the performance of bombing missions. It is proper to refer in field orders to objective folders for detailed information of objectives.

c. For form and detailed statement of contents of objective folders, see FM 1-40.

SECTION III: MEANS FOR AIR ATTACK

10. BOMBARDMENT AVIATION.-a. Function.-Tactical units of bombardment aviation may be equipped with either heavy, medium, or light type bombardment aircraft. All bombardment aircraft are designed and equipped for the attack of surface objectives. The performance of air attack is the primary tactical function of bombardment aviation.

b. Military characteristics.-Bombardment aviation is characterized by its ability to carry large loads of destructive agents to attack surface objectives.

(1) Light bombardment aviation constitutes the striking element of that combat aviation which is organized, trained, and equipped primarily to operate in direct support of ground forces. It is characterized by high speed, moderate size, maneuverability, provision for loads of various types of fire, and by provision for some defensive fire forward to cover low altitude attack approaches. The principal types of offensive fire carried are bombs and chemicals.

(2) Heavy and medium bombardment constitutes the offensive power of the aviation striking forces. They are characterized by high speeds, medium and long ranges, great load carrying capacity, large sizes, and provision of defensive fire against hostile fighter aviation. Their principal type of fire is the demolition bomb.

11. ROLE OF BOMBARDMENT AVIATION.-Bombardment aviation is capable of attacking a wide variety of surface objectives at any point within the operating radius of the aircraft employed. Bombardment aircraft possess a relatively high degree of flexibility by reason of their great transposability of fuel and armament loads. The great variety of possible bombardment missions is such that no one model of aircraft is ideally suited to the accomplishment of all types of missions.

12. ARMAMENT.-All bombardment aircraft carry both offensive and defensive armament. Their defensive armament is carried solely for their own protection against hostile air-craft in flight or against ground forces in the case of minimum altitude attacks.

3. ROLE OF PURSUIT AVIATION IN AIR ATTACKS AGAINST GROUND OBJECTIVES.-While the normal role of pursuit aviation is intended for air fighting, it is capable of conducting air attack operations against ground personnel and light materiel targets that are vulnerable to its weapons. When so employed it conducts attacks against point targets by precision gunnery, bombing from a diving approach, or attacks area targets by minimum altitude bombing tactics while employing fixed forward machine gun fire to cover the approach to the target. For pursuit aviation in air attacks in support of ground forces see section VII, chapter 5, FM 1-15.