Week6: 15-22 September 2013 Flashcards
Squadron 7 pg 20
Shadow Seven
Squadron 34 pg 20
Loose Hawgs
Squadron 35 pg 20
Wild Weasels
Edgar F. Puryear, Jr’s quote on Integrity pg 170
“When a man has strong qualities of leadership, but is of low moral character, there is always the danger that his subordinates will be influenced by his bad characteristics, to the detriment of the leader and of the group. But if the leader is a man of strong qualities of leadership and high moral character, he will endure and he will achieve better results.”
US Air Force Mission: pg 62
The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight, and win… in air, space, and cyberspace.
pg 117
B-2A Spirit
B-2A Spirit Manufacturer pg 117
Northrup Grumman
B-2A Spirit Function
Multi-Role Heavy Bomber
B-2a Spirit Service Date
1993
B2A Spirit Speed
Mach 0.85-0.95
B-2A Spirit Crew
Two Pilots
B-2A Spirit Production
21
B-2A Spirit Inventory
20
B-2A Commentary
Based on flying wing concept pioneered on Northrup test bombers YB-35 and YB-49 in the 1940’s. The first use of B-2s in combat took place in 1999 in Operation ALLIED FORCE.
Colonel Karol J. Bobko: pg 50-51
Retired Colonel Karol J. Bobko, Class of 1959, was the first graduate to enter the space program. After completing training at the Air Force’s Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edward AFB, he was assigned to the Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program in August 1969. He commanded Space Shuttle Challenger on STS-6. In 1983, Colonel Bobko received the Jabara Award for Airmanship. The Jabara Award is given each year to the Academy graduate whose accomplishments demonstrate superior performance in fields directly associated with aerospace vehicles.
Captain Robert E. Blake: pg 53
There were many other Academy graduates whose courage, skill, and leadership made them heroes as well as examples for all of us. The first graduate to down a MiG was a 1959 graduate by the name of Captain (now retired Colonel) Robert E. Blake.
pg 144
Cyberspace Wings
pg144
Space Wings pg 144
pg 144
UAS Pilot Wings
pg 114
Sensor Operator Wings
WWII, The Eighth Air Force: pg 76-78
Within the Air Corps, airmen emphasized doctrinal development through the Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS), providing the intellectual foundation for employing air power. From doctrine evolved ideas for technological requirements, aircraft procurement, strategy, and tactics. Influenced by Billy Mitchell, Italy’s Giulio Douhet, adn the Royal Air Force’s Hugh Trenchard, the ACTS faculty developed an air war theory that emphasized long-range strategic bombardment. According to their thinking, massed bombers woul penetrate enemy defenses, bypass field armies and navies, and strike enemy “vital centers,” key nodes whose destruction would collapse the enemy’s economy. Proper target selection would destroy both an enemy’s capability and will to fight. Selective, precision bombardment assured economy of force and minimized civilian casualites. Eventually, the ACTS idea became known as the “industrial web” theory, or the acronym HAPDB (High Altitude Precision Daylight Bombardment).
Complimenting this doctrine came the advent of the heavy bomber which was the mainstay of the 8th Air Force in WWII. In August 1935, the four-engine Boeing Model 299 flew 2,100 miles non-stop from Seattle to Dayton, Ohio at an average speed of 232 mph. Eventually designated the B-17, the “Flying Fortress” paired with the highly secret Norden Bombsight to revolutionize bombardment aviation and promised to fulfil ACTS air power theories. The B-17’s size, range, and 300+ mph top speed ushered a new era just as winds of war stirred in Europe.
Flying from bases in England, the Eighth Air Force symbolized the air war against Germany On 17 August 1942, twleve B-17Es of the 97th Bomb Group conducted the first American operational bombing mission. Although the strike against a railroad marshalling yard in Rouen, France barely penetrated the German defenses and RAF Spitfires escorted the bombers, the mission promised hope fo the American daylight bombardment strategy.
Early missions into Germany were risky. On 14 october 1943, one mission against Schweinfurt effectively ended the USAAF’s unescorted bombing campain. Determined to destrpy the top priority target, General Eaker ordered 291 B-17s back into the guantlet of German fighters. Sixty bombers were shot down, seven ore were destroyed upon landing in England, and 138 B-17s suffered battle damage. The Eighth Air Force could not sustain further losses of this magnitude.
The advent of the North American P-51 Mustang revolutionized the air war over Europe. With a 440 mph top speed, the P-51B was faster, could out turn, and out dive German fighters. With a basic range of 500 miles and an augmented range of 850 miles, the Mustang could even out range a B-17 with normal payload.
Armed with new aircraft, tactics, and superior numbers, Lt Gen Carl Spaatz launched Operation ARGUMENT with the objective of winning air superiority and crippling Germanyh’s aircraft industry. Between 20 and 25 February 1944, the Eighth Air Force flew 3,300 heavy bomber sorties, the Fifteenth Air Force added 500 missions from Italy, and RAF Bomber Command flew 2,750 night attacks aimed at German aircraft manufacturing plants. Protecting them were nearly 4,000 fighter sorties. At the cost of 226 Americans bombers, 114 British heavies, and 41 USAAF fighters, operation ARGUEMENT, better known as “Big Week,” broke the Luftwaffe’s back by destroying 355 fighters, dammaging 155, and killing 400 German fighter pilots. After “Big Week”, the US Strategic Air Force had turned the corner In a few months, the United States would gain air superiority over all of Europe. The Germans would later change their tactics, and bring in jet fighters, but after “Big Week”, their efforts were to little and to late.
On 6 June 1944, Allied air forces dominated the skies of Europe. On the first day of the invasion, the Allies directed 8,722 USAAF and 5,676 RAF sorties against German defenses in France. In response, the once vaunted Luftwaffe could send less than 100 sorties airborne and only two German aircraft inflicted damage on the invasion beaches.
General Douglas MacArthur’s quote on Integrity pg 170
Duty, honor, country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn.
Honor Oath pg 17
“We will not Lie, Steal, or Cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does. Furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and to live honorably, so help me God.”
pg 124
F-15A/B/C/D Eagle
