A History of Army Aviation

A History of Army Aviation PDF Author: James W. Williams
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 0595366082
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 451

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Book Description
.spellbinding history., the how, what, when, where and why.some never told and certainly not always understood. This is a story that has begged to be told, .with sources and substance heretofore missing. Historians, military scholars, and aviators, .will rely on this work for years. Carl H. McNair, Jr., Major General, U.S. Army (Retired) 'This is worth a good read.a welcome and long overdue history of Army Aviation." Joseph L. Galloway, senior military correspondent, Knight Ridder Newspapers and co-author, We Were Soldiers Once.and Young Soldiers, scholars, and aviation enthusiasts alike can learn much from this comprehensive examination.. .successfully blends lively and insightful historical narrative with astute analysis. .unfailingly honest assessment of.contributions to our national defense. Carol Reardon, Pennsylvania State University, author of LAUNCH THE INTRUDERS .tightly written and focused.traces the aviation branch from its inception through two world wars, the loss of a major portion to the new Air Force, .up through its current role.. .required reading for anyone who desires to understand.Army aviation. Darrel Whitcomb, author of The Rescue of Bat 21, and Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm .tells the whole story concisely by addressing seven key themes. .crisp prose and well-chosen illustrations.. This old ground-pounder owes his life to.brave crews of Army birds. Henry Gole, Ph.D./Colonel (ret.), author of Soldiering

A History of Army Aviation

A History of Army Aviation PDF Author: James W. Williams
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 0595366082
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 451

Get Book Here

Book Description
.spellbinding history., the how, what, when, where and why.some never told and certainly not always understood. This is a story that has begged to be told, .with sources and substance heretofore missing. Historians, military scholars, and aviators, .will rely on this work for years. Carl H. McNair, Jr., Major General, U.S. Army (Retired) 'This is worth a good read.a welcome and long overdue history of Army Aviation." Joseph L. Galloway, senior military correspondent, Knight Ridder Newspapers and co-author, We Were Soldiers Once.and Young Soldiers, scholars, and aviation enthusiasts alike can learn much from this comprehensive examination.. .successfully blends lively and insightful historical narrative with astute analysis. .unfailingly honest assessment of.contributions to our national defense. Carol Reardon, Pennsylvania State University, author of LAUNCH THE INTRUDERS .tightly written and focused.traces the aviation branch from its inception through two world wars, the loss of a major portion to the new Air Force, .up through its current role.. .required reading for anyone who desires to understand.Army aviation. Darrel Whitcomb, author of The Rescue of Bat 21, and Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm .tells the whole story concisely by addressing seven key themes. .crisp prose and well-chosen illustrations.. This old ground-pounder owes his life to.brave crews of Army birds. Henry Gole, Ph.D./Colonel (ret.), author of Soldiering

From Hot Air to Hellfire

From Hot Air to Hellfire PDF Author: James W. Bradin
Publisher: Presidio Press
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 280

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Book Description
Attack helicopters were created in order to protect the heliborne troops as they airlifted into hostile terrain.

Evolution of Army Attack Aviation

Evolution of Army Attack Aviation PDF Author: U S Army Command and General Staff Coll
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781500974299
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 76

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Book Description
United States Army corps and division commanders pursued varied approaches to integrate Army attack aviation into their schemes of maneuver over the past thirty years. Two predominant schools of thought emerged: close combat attack or deep attacks. After focusing on deep attacks during the 1980s and 1990s, the attack aviation community drastically "about faced" towards supporting ground maneuver units in the close fight in mid-2003.This book analyzes the development and employment of attack aviation over the past three decades through the analogy of chaotic coupled pendulums to explore the influence of corps, divisions, ground maneuver brigades, and the Army Aviation branch upon aviation brigades. As the Army transitions out of sustained stability and counterinsurgency operations, the Army Aviation community should embrace the opportunity to explore methods for attack aviation to execute deep operations in support of corps and division operations while retaining the proficiency in integrated air-ground close combat.

U.S. Army Attack Aviation in a Decisive Action Environment

U.S. Army Attack Aviation in a Decisive Action Environment PDF Author: U. S. Military
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781520592701
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 63

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Book Description
The attack helicopter airframe and role evolved slowly, over time, to fulfill the missions of observation and reconnaissance, air escort, direct fire support, anti-tank, and deep attack, in support of ground elements from the platoon to the corps. This evolution was heavily influenced by technology and the Air Force's institutional territorialism. However, today's attack helicopter doctrine, heavily influenced by the Global War on Terror and the 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment's disastrous deep attack during Operation Iraqi Freedom, provides little description for attack aviation support to the division or corps. As a result, both ground and aviation commanders and planners have less doctrinal tools for employing attack helicopters at those levels. This is especially evident in the case of attack aviation support to a friendly unit in direct contact with an enemy force. Through an analysis of current doctrine and history from World War I to the present, this monograph will argue that rotary wing attack aviation can perform a variety of missions, but that attack aviation doctrine needs to be refined in two areas. First, attack aviation doctrine needs to address operations in support of the corps and division. Second, the aviation branch needs to further develop the attack mission in order to describe how commanders can better integrate attack helicopters with the ground scheme of maneuver. Introduction * Section 1. Historical Analysis * The Rise of Airpower Theory and the Loss of the Air Corps * Rise of Army Aviation as Observers, Short-Range Transport, and MEDEVAC * Rise of the Sky Cavalry * The Vietnam Experience and the Rise of the Modern Attack Helicopter * The Effect of Technology, the Deep Attack Mission, and Operation Desert Storm * End of the Deep Attack and the 11th AHR Attack on the Medina Division * Section 2. Doctrinal Analysis * Section 3. Conclusion and Recommendations In terms of manpower, by December 2011 the Army had contributed more than 1.5 million troop-years to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. At that same time, more than 73% of all active component soldiers had deployed at least once to one of those operations with 34% of those soldiers having dedicated 25 months or more. Organizationally, the Army transformed its entire operating concept, switching from combined arms divisions to a modular brigade force. The new design divided the force into combined arms brigade combat teams (BCTs), modular support brigades, and functional brigades that could be rapidly trained, deployed, and attached to higher echelon headquarters to support overseas operations. In terms of thought, the Army developed a series of new doctrinal manuals and concepts to address the unique challenges brought on by more than a decade of sustained overseas operations. Some of the most significant doctrinal publications included: Field Manual (FM) 3-24, Counterinsurgency, an effort to fill a doctrinal gap and address the deteriorating situations in Iraq and Afghanistan; Army Regulation (AR) 525-29, Army Force Generation, a regulation that institutionalized force generation concepts necessary to support the overseas operations; and FM 3-04.111, Aviation Brigades, a doctrinal manual addressing the organizational and operational concepts unique to the new modular combat aviation brigades.

With Wings as Eagles

With Wings as Eagles PDF Author: Cecil B. Currey
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aeronautics, Military
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description


A History of Army Aviation 1950-1962

A History of Army Aviation 1950-1962 PDF Author: Richard P. Weinert
Publisher: www.Militarybookshop.CompanyUK
ISBN: 9781780391311
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
U.S. Army aviation expanded dramatically in both size and breadth of activities after its inception in 1942, but much of its post-World War II history, particularly after the establishment of the Air Force as an independent service by the national Security Act of 1947, has been relatively neglected. Despite a certain amount of jockeying for position by both services, particularly in the early years after their separation, the Army was able to carve out a clear transport and operational combat role for its own air arm. "A History of Army Aviation - 1950-1962" examines the development of the Army's air wing, especially for air support of ground troops, both in terms of organization and in relation to the ongoing friction with the Air Force. After describing the rapid expansion of purely Army air power after 1950 and the accompanying expansion of aviation training, the book delves into the reorganization of aviation activities within a Directorate of Army Aviation. It also provides a valuable account of the successful development of aircraft armament, perhaps the most significant advance of this period. In particular, intensive experimentation at the Army Aviation School led to several practical weapons systems and helped to prove that weapons could be fired from rotary aircraft. This arming of the helicopter was to have a profound effect on both Army organization and combat doctrine, culminating in official approval of the armed helicopter by the Department of the Army in 1960. "A History of Army Aviation - 1950-1962" also explores the development of new aircraft between 1955 and 1962, including the UH-1 medical evacuation, transport, and gunship helicopter and the HC-1 cargo copter. In addition, the book discusses the Berlin Crisis of 1961 as an impetus for immediate and unexpected expansion of army aviation, quickly followed by the beginnings of intervention in Vietnam by the end of 1962.

The Evolution of US Army Tactical Doctrine, 1946-76

The Evolution of US Army Tactical Doctrine, 1946-76 PDF Author: Robert A. Doughty
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Military art and science
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
This paper focuses on the formulation of doctrine since World War II. In no comparable period in history have the dimensions of the battlefield been so altered by rapid technological changes. The need for the tactical doctrines of the Army to remain correspondingly abreast of these changes is thus more pressing than ever before. Future conflicts are not likely to develop in the leisurely fashions of the past where tactical doctrines could be refined on the battlefield itself. It is, therefore, imperative that we apprehend future problems with as much accuracy as possible. One means of doing so is to pay particular attention to the business of how the Army's doctrine has developed historically, with a view to improving methods of future development.

Beyond the Battle Line: US Air Attack Theory and Doctrine, 1919-1941

Beyond the Battle Line: US Air Attack Theory and Doctrine, 1919-1941 PDF Author: Major Gary C. Cox
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
ISBN: 1786250373
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 107

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Book Description
This study examines the development and usefulness of US air attack theory and doctrine during the interwar period, 1919-1941. This period represents more than twenty years of development in US Air Corps attack theory and doctrine. It was the first peacetime period of such development. Attack aviation during this time was a branch of aviation used to provide direct and indirect combat support to ground forces in the form of machine gun strafing, light bombing, and chemical attacks. From the earliest origins, attack theory and doctrine evolved primarily along two paths direct and indirect support of ground and air force objectives. The direct support approach was based on fundamental beliefs by the Army that attack aviation was an auxiliary combat arm, to be used directly on the battlefield against ground forces and to further the ground campaign plan. The indirect support approach, or air interdiction, was derived from the fundamental beliefs by the Air Corps that attack aviation was best used beyond the battle line and artillery range, against targets more vulnerable and less heavily defended, to further both the Air Force mission and the ground support mission. As attack doctrine evolved, range and hardened targets became problematic for the single-engine attack plane. Thus, attack theory and doctrine in terms of the indirect support approach, was adequately developed to be useful at the start of WWII. The use of light and medium bombers in North Africa showed the effectiveness of air interdiction and the indirect approach. Attack aviation had, indeed, established itself before WWII. Attack aviation, in the form of close air support, would have to wait for the lessons of WWII.

Army Fixed-Wing Ground Attack Aircraft

Army Fixed-Wing Ground Attack Aircraft PDF Author: U. S. Military
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN: 9781731421890
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 128

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Book Description
Close Air Support (CAS) depends on close cooperation between ground and air units, predicated on mutual understanding and close proximity. CAS also depends on aviator training and aircraft characteristics. Despite predictions of air power's dominance, air-ground teams are the most effective employment of military power. This thesis demonstrates that the modern Army Combat Aviation Brigade mimics the WWII Tactical Air Command's effective, close working relationship between air and ground units. However, Army Aviation lacks fixed-wing attack aircraft, forcing the Army to rely on the Air Force for fixed-wing CAS. Utilizing non-organic means for critical functions violates unity of command and results in CAS performed by aircraft primarily designed for other missions. This situation is likely to worsen in the coming years. This thesis summarizes Army-Air Force CAS issues since WWII and argues that the Army requires an organic fixed wing attack aircraft to bridge the capability gap between its helicopters and USAF platforms at the tactical level. Fielding such aircraft would free the Air Force to focus on its broader missions while enhancing the capabilities of Army Aviation.On June 9 2014, a United States Air Force (USAF) B-1B bomber dropped two 500lb GPS-guided bombs on a team of Army Special Forces and Afghan security forces, killing five. Numerous errors on by the aircrew and ground element contributed to deaths on the ground, all of which are historically endemic to Close Air Support (CAS). The terminal controller was unfamiliar with the operating environment and the aircrew could not visually acquire either the friendly or the enemy positions from 12,000 feet above ground level. Because they believed the aircraft's targeting pod could identify friendly strobe lights, the air-ground team "collectively failed to effectively execute the fundamentals, which resulted in poor situation awareness and improper target identification." Sadly, when it comes to CAS, this type of tragic incident is too common.No military cooperation issue creates more acrimony than CAS. CAS has been contentious since the first aircraft teamed with ground forces and remains so today. These friction points are relative priority of CAS and Interdiction; operational control of CAS aircraft and; aircraft characteristics. The history of Army-Air Force CAS largely consists of poor initial efforts followed by the development of workable systems success as effective air-ground teams and aircraft developed on the battlefield. No organizational processes or technology has been able to bridge the Army-Air Force CAS divide. This thesis examines that divide, proposing an Army Fixed-Wing (FW) aircraft as a solution.

The Development of Ground Attack Aviation in the United States Army Air Arm

The Development of Ground Attack Aviation in the United States Army Air Arm PDF Author: Ronald Robert Fogleman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 202

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Book Description