Airpower in World War II Flashcards
What proved a prerequisite for successful land, sea, or air operations?
Air superiority
What term (meaning lightning war) was spawned when, on 1 September 1939, Adolf Hitler launched a massive assault on Poland that opened the greatest war in history?
Blitzkrieg
What was the first all-air campaign in history?
The Battle of Britain (German Air Force vs. Britain’s Royal Air Force)
What was the top secret information gained from Dowding’s code-breaking Enigma machine known as?
ULTRA
What gave British intelligence forewarning of major attacks and invaluable insight on the status of German maintenance and logistics?
The Enigma machine
In June of 1940, what galvanized President Roosevelt’s resolve to fight Nazi tyranny?
The fall of France
What did Roosevelt turn to as a major weapon when he resolved to fight Nazi tyranny?
Airpower
What emerged as a key to Allied victory?
American industrial production
Who was appointed Commanding General of the US Army Air Force?
General Henry “Hap” Arnold
When was the Pearl Harbor
7 Dec 1941
When did the US declare war on Japan
8 Dec 1941
What was the codename for The Casablanca Directive of January 1943?
Operation PointBlank
What aircraft revolutionized the air war over Europe?
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang
What operation did Spaatz, Doolittle, and Kepner launch with the objective of winning air superiority and crippling Germany’s aircraft industry?
Operation Arguement
By April 16, 1945, who had declared the strategic air war against Germany ended since all significant targets were considered destroyed?
General Carl A. “Tooey” Spaatz
