Page 89 - The Chief Culprit
P. 89
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About “Obsolete” Airplanes
Air force superiority is on the side of the enemy. e number of our units [that are] active
on the front has been drastically reduced.
—C G S G ,
C G F H, J ,
rom the moment that aviation came into being, the problem of acquiring air superiori-
ty—and, ideally, complete air domination—presented itself before military strategists.
FWithout air superiority, victory is impossible. Air superiority can be attained through
one of two ways: either destruction of the enemy’s air force on the ground, or through air
battles. Usually both of these methods are used simultaneously. However, a commander of
any rank unavoidably has to determine, based on the way the situation develops, which of
these two methods is his priority at the given moment, and which is secondary. Before the
war starts, the military and political high command of the country should clearly determine
its position on the given question: which of these methods will be primary, especially in
the early period of the war? If the primary method of attaining air superiority is to be the
way of air battles, the attention of all designers should be turned to creating fighter aircraft.
Designers of fighter aircraft should be given the best production facilities, the best aircraft
engines, the most expensive equipment, and the rarest materials. If it is decided to win air
superiority through air battles, the best pilots need to be sent to fighter aviation. ese fighter
pilots should be given the largest part of training resources and fuel, even if it is done at the
expense of training other pilots. If, however, we have decided to win air superiority by de-
stroying the enemy’s air force on the ground, then the attention of the designers should be
turned to creating planes of an entirely different nature. Low-flying attack planes and light
bombers are perfect for carrying out raids on air bases. e low-flying aircraft is not designed
for air battle. is plane needs neither record speed, nor altitude, nor maneuverability. is
plane has to meet entirely different requirements. It must be well defended from powerful
fire from the ground, and must carry its own weapons powerful enough to destroy targets on
the ground.
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