bomber mafia close group american military men believed long range heavy bomber aircraft large numbers able win war term bomber mafia world war military share belief frustrated insistence men heavy bomber primary position planning funding world war years work bomber mafia resulted separation united_states_air_force army independent military arm bomber mafia strategic doctrine changed war experience helped shape mission new air_force years later related term fighter mafia described air_force favoured light weight fighters good dog fighting instead heavy missile firing fighters origins developed years acts field virginia forward looking doctrine daylight precision bombing instructors argued enemy army navy defeated intact destruction industrial military targets deep enemy held territory theory espoused italian general ideas included terror bombing population centers american contrast american devised strategy pin point bombing targeted enemy economy production weapons major attraction sort strategic bombing doctrine war expected won relatively quickly minimal casualties grinding static trench warfare seen world war avoided november british lord president said bomber talking terror bombing cities bomber mafia agreed baldwin bomber prevail mission intended mission military industrial targets populations effect doctrine required majority resources fleet self defending heavy bombers training maintenance great number airmen fill ground crew positions acts officers believed heavy bomber doctrine realized expenditures tactical bombers fighter aircraft away proposed large fleet heavy bombers men realized united_states government reduce funding naval ground forces order establish great air fleet implement changes acts instructors began sense students separate independent air arm type described earlier billy mitchell called united_states_air_force way forward compromise step established commanded general strategic bombing advocate staffed command like minded officers flawed tested optimal conditions doctrine originally known industrial web theory primary strategy united_states planning world war instructors school core bomber mafia produced war plans guided wartime expansion deployment opposition term bomber mafia came bitter debates united_states_army staff men observed argued insistence instructors students acts heavy bombers new primary weapon war separate air arm required command years strongest voice acts bomber doctrine captain later general called use air power attack enemy fighting units ground advocated close coordination air ground forces emphasis medium bombers fighter bombers left acts heavy bomber filled vacancy doctrine ran counter theories espoused pursuit support essential daylight bombing operations expert use air units aid artillery infantry held concept tactical air power time acts instructor later successfully implemented ideas captain senior instructor fighter tactics acts vocal officer challenged bomber mafia decade forced early retirement leaving precision bombing advocates unopposed teaching fighter pursuit tactics declined continued discuss role fighter opposition subtle fighter projects officer lieutenant appreciated large bomber fleet able perform military tasks strategic bombing felt force doctrine remain flexible meet demand lower rank position challenge bomber mafia instead work restrictions pursuit aircraft formulated new class aircraft order sustain idea armed fighter aircraft successfully attack enemy bombers given drop tanks long range defend friendly bombers way target bomber mafia failure imagination expanding doctrine include establishing air superiority success accept concepts believed heavy bomber fleet protect contributed delay development long range escort fighter years war doctrine nonetheless foundation separation air_force army basis modern theory acts graduate instructor bomber mafia member concurred authors war plan mistake long range fighter escort ideas wrote recognized fighter escort inherently desirable conceive small fighter range bomber retain combat failure issue proved major shortcomings advocates instructors leading theorist acts commander thomas school officer charge moon robert olds graduates oliver acts instructor acts instructor acts instructor curtis donnell legacy world war bomber mafia theory daylight strategic bombing proved wrong fleets heavy bombers able achieve victory cooperation army navy required protection long range fighters deep penetration missions overall casualties war minimal victory come significantly quicker precision bombing achieved long range fighter escorts available air superiority achieved opponents warned strategic bombing concept major factor eventual victory core doctrine independent united_states_air_force proponents continued promote doctrine nuclear age forming carry vision modified fit needs cold war threat nuclear warfare bomber mafia gradually replaced 1950s 1960s advocates intercontinental missile warfare
Bomber Mafia