In the 1900's, transportation and weapons became important for the different wars that the United States were involved in. Planes were one of the most significant inventions in the 20th century. Being able to fly from place to place was a new lifestyle for America's military. In World War II, military planes were a huge part of the war, and without them, many things that happened, would not have happened. As America was getting involved with Japan, they needed a more powerful plane. That plane that they needed was known as the B-29 Superfortress. The B-29 had a greater impact on Japan than any other plane because of the amount of destroyed resources in Japan, the most destructive firebomb in history, and the dropping of the first atomic bomb. The United States needed an enormous bomber plane that could carry out the plans that air force wanted. There were two main focuses for sending the B-29’s over to the Pacific. Author James Lee Cate said,”...the plan was aimed at two objectives currently sponsored by President Roosevelt: to speed up the war against Japan and to bolster the morale of the Chinese.” Air company, Boeing, and American Air Force designed the B-29 Superfortress in 1939. Boeing had come up with a huge project in making these big bombers. The new bomber plane was unlike any plane at the time. At 99 feet long and with a wingspan of 141 feet, the B-29 had a top speed of 365 miles per hour. Its range was about 5, 830 miles and it could hold a crew of ten men. The B-29 had fast speed, good range, as well as carrying big bombs. The Air Corps needed a plane exactly like this. This bomber was also the heaviest plane to date because it was equipped with bombs and defensive weapons. Being able to hold many bombs because of its... ... middle of paper ... ...October 2010. Accessed May 20, 2014.http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/pages/2010/october%202010/1010atomic.aspx. Keith, Wheeler. Bomber Over Japan. Alexandria: Time Life Books, n.d. Kennedy, Hickman “World War II: Boeing B-29 Superfortress.” Military History. Accessed May 18, 2014. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/militaryaircraft/p/b29.htm. The History Channel. “Firebombing of Tokyo.” Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/firebombing-of-tokyo. “The Story of the “Billy Mitchell Group” 468 H-Bomb Group – from the C.B.I. to the Marianas.” Accessed May 18, 2014. http://www.468thbombgroup.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6E13hH%2B%2Bd2E%3D&tabid=95&mid=490. Thomas, Searle. “'It Made a Lot of Sense to Kill Skilled Workers': The Firebombing of Tokyo in March 1945.” The Journal of Military History 66, no. 1 (Jan. 2002): 113,114.
By the end of World War I the world was beginning to realize the ability air combat presented. When World War II started planes became much more effective. Though still fabric covered, the aircraft were faster and more agile than the variants used in the Great War. In 1938, the first year of the Second World War, Curtiss unveiled their P-40 Warhawk. This aircraft was one of the best of its time and laid the foundation for modern aircraft engineering. But by 1940 the German Luftwaffe had begun to develop faster, long-ranged fighter-bombers. All current Allied aircraft could not keep up with the long range of the B-17 bombers who needed escort. In 1940, North American Aviation received an order from Britain requesting another shipment of
Airmen: An Illustrated History: 1939-1949.” Oct. 2012. Vol. 65 Issue 4, pg. 316-319. 4p. Ebsco Host. Tucker, Phillip Thomas, 1953. Web.2014.
The P-51 Mustang is regarded by many sources as the greatest fighter plane ever created. With the technological advancements this plane achieved, to it’s service record, to it’s importance in winning World War Two, the Mustang is truly one of the greats. The Mustang played a key role in long range bomber support and saved countless bomber crew’s lives, and pilots loved to fly it. The P-51 had the most aerial victories of any American fighter in World War Two and it was flown by some of America’s top aces. The P-51 was a beast of a fighter plane
Following the bi-planes, the bomber design took great change. In a Unites States Army Air Corp or USAAC competition in 1934, they were looking for a new plane that could provide defense and better qualities than the current service plane, the Keystone bi-plane bomber. (Boeing B-17 Flying) Boeing came up with the design and built the B-17 and won the competition. The plane was not a bi-plane, but a single winged, nine cylinder radial engine plane that could carry a normal cargo storage of 25 tons and could fly a distance of 2 thousand miles. (Boeing B-17 Flying) The plane had been described by a German test pilot who flew a captured B-17 who said “the aircraft was easy to fly and land. When one had become accustomed...
The bombings of 1945 by the United States of America on Japan were very controversial events. Many historians believe these acts were aggressive and unnecessary. In addition, analysts argue that the U.S. should have used alternative methods instead of the bomb, but most do not realize the repercussions of these different tactics. On the contrary, the bomb was needed to ease tension quickly and effectively. Ultimately, the bomb proved more effective than any other method, and also proved to be a technique that is sufficient for America’s needs. The effort made by the U.S. to bomb Japan after their disapproval of the Potsdam Declaration was needed to end conflicts in the Pacific because of Japanese resistance, to save American lives, and to portray the U.S. as a nation of power and dominance.
The development of the B-2 Spirit has become one of the giant leaps in aviation history. Developed by Northrop Grumman, the aircraft became known as one of the best-kept secrets in history. The B-2 Spirit has stealth capabilities that help it become invisible to enemy radar. The Bomber was also the first aircraft to use JDAM capabilities. It became successful in the war in Kosovo. Using its potential and proving itself as an advanced strategic bomber. The Spirit is a very expensive aircraft, one that has stirred controversy amongst politicians and the general public. This aircraft is the grandfather of technologically advanced aircraft that will soon fill the sky above us.
Johnson, David E. Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers: Innovation in the U.S. Army, 1917-1945. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1998. Print.
He describes how the B-29 was fashioned and produced notwithstanding the difficulties of the ever-changing design, and the implementation of the aircraft in the Pacific Theater. One of the most advanced aircraft flown during World War II, the Superfortress was created to expand on the capabilities of the B-17 and meet the demanding needs of Pacific. As the first bomber with a pressurized cabin, as well as, feature advanced radar, avionics, and defensive capabilities required of an unescorted bomber. The updated version of his book also includes detailed statistical tables showing the impact of the B-29 on the war
World War II was one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. There were many different battles that took place within this war; some more important than others. World War II began once Germany’s new dictator, Adolf Hitler, decided that he wanted to gain power for Germany and for himself. One of Hitler’s first moves in power was invading Poland on September 1, 1939. Many other countries became involved in this war because of the alliance system. The two sides during this war were the Allies and Axis powers. German, Italy and Japan were on the Axis powers; France, Britain, and the United States were on the Allies. Germany first began with the Blitzkrieg tactic meaning “lightning war”. This tactic is based on speed, surprise and was the most popular tactic. It is set up with military forces based around tanks which are supported by planes and infantry. The Blitzkrieg tactic lead to air wars with airplanes between countries. All of the countries were allowed to participate in the air wars but the four main countries were United States, Japan, Britain, and Germany. During the 1920’s and 1930’s airplanes grew in size and structure giving them more power, and making planes more effective. Planes made it easier to drop bombs, or plan attacks. All of these countries fought over air superiority. Air superiority is the position in which the air force has control over all of the air warfare and air power of the opposing forces. Germany began with air superiority but they lost it when Britain defeated them at the Battle of Britain. Gaining control over the air is a very big advantage because it is easier to plan an attack on an opposing country. All of the countries relied on their aircrafts during this war. The issue about the use of...
World War II brought much technological advancement that changed the way war was waged; however, the invention of the aircraft carrier was the most important advancement which actually began at the end of World War I. After the plane was invented it was soon used for reconnaissance and then pilots eventually dropped bombs from them and eventually weapons were shot from them at other planes and ground troops. After improvements such as more powerful engines, lighter materials, and weapons synchronized to the speed of the propeller came the new method of transporting planes and using their firepower overseas with the aircraft carrier. Aircraft carriers transformed the methods used to fight battles during World War II because Army and Marine Infantrymen had air support while raiding axis countries and islands which would not have been available because of fuel limitations of aircraft. A pivotal demonstration of aircraft carrier usage in World War II was the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The Imperial Japanese Navy launched several waves of torpedo planes and dive bombers to attack the cruisers, destroyers, and battleships at Pearl Harbor as well as fighter planes and hangars in order to crush the United States’ naval power. The ultimate objective of Pearl Harbor; however, was to destroy the United States’ aircraft carriers because Japan knew about the tactical advantages of having aircraft carriers as well as the industrial capacity of the United States to make more warships and weapons. “Since Pearl… Japan’s industrial base could
The March Field Air Museum complimented what we read in our textbooks about the importance of planes in World War I. The textbook states, “Planes began to be constructed to serve various functions: bombers fighters (planes that engage in ‘dogfights’ with other planes), and reconnaissance aircraft” (Brinkley 530). In the museum there was a substantial folder that was suppose to represent a manual that soldiers were suppose to read. The manual helped soldiers get a better understanding of planes. Since aircrafts were becoming more critical it was
All of this changed when the P-51 was introduced. It had a large enough fuel tank to effectively protect the B-17 on their missions. Meanwhile, the Axis powers lost air superiority because they put most of their effort towards medium bombers that couldn’t do as much damage as heavy bombers. The third reason the Allies won WWII is because Germany declared war on Russia and the U.S. The reason this was so destructive is because it a) opened up Germany to a two front war and b) unleashed the wrath of a soon to be economic and military powerhouse on themselves. Before their invasion of Russia, Nazi Germany and Russia had a Non-Aggression Pact, so Russia wasn’t an immediate threat. But the invasion of Russia split the German war effort in half, making it easier to push back the German Army. The reason declaring war on the U.S. was disastrous is because (with the exception of Russia) Germany was fighting relatively easy opponents, a battered Britain (on account of the Blitz) and the remnants of the conquered French Army, but by introducing the U.S. (and Russia) Germany made winning the war harder on itself,
The bombing of Pearl Harbor shocked America and frightened the country. The U.S. needed to come up with a plan but it was very difficult without an Air Force base in Asia close enough to attack Japan. Finally Captain Francis Low Assistant Chief of staff thought of the idea of launching B-25 bombers off of an aircraft carrier. The B-25 bombers were light enough to take off within a short distance of an aircraft carrier but also travel with a reasonable bomb load and fly the 2,000 miles the mission would require. The idea finally reached to General Arnold, Head of The U.S. Army Air Force and appointed Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle as the project officer.
Even though Japan attacked the US directly, the primary focus of the war was the threat of Germany. The United States Army Air F...
This new Bomber had a lot of new features. The Bomber had guns that could be fired by remote control and radar assisted navigation which helped get bombs to their targets more accurately. The B-29 was also one of the heaviest aircrafts because of increases in