Transcript Chapter 7 World War II (1939-1945)

Chapter 7
World War II
(1939-1945)
Unlike WWI, WWII involved a multitude of aircraft from
the start, as well as new classifications of aircraft and
new aviation technologies that rose during the war.
One estimate is that Britain and the US together
produced over 380,000 aircraft during the war. As a
civilian, Charles Lindbergh flew 50 combat mission in
the Pacific. Pilots and groups became famous such
as the Tuskegee Airmen and Jimmy Doolittle’s
Raiders.
Section A
War Emergency and Response
World War II
On 1 Sept 1939, Germany invaded Poland
Germany began its Blitzkrieg campaign
– Blitzkrieg is German for ‘lightning war’
– Germany used airplane for both strategic and
tactical missions.
Strategic – attacking airfields and production
plants
Tactical – missions supporting the land troops
Poland Falls
Britain and France align with Poland
– They issue ultimatums to Germany
Germany fails to respond
– War is declared on Germany by the Brits and
French
The Soviets invaded Poland
– 17 Sept 1939
– Down 7 Polish fighters and 3 Polish bombers
Poland surrenders to Germans and
Soviets
– 5 October 1939.
The Phony War
As the war continues on the ground, aerial
operations were limited due to the winter
weather.
– German called it the Sitzkrieg phase, or
Phony War.
– Began October 1939 continued through April
1940.
Germany began blitzkrieg again in May
1940. The war was real!
Dunkirk
May – June 1940, British and French forces
evacuated across the English Channel
back to Britain.
– They defended Dunkirk, their departure point
– A massive aerial battle took place
First time British Spitfires fought German fighters
Both Germany and Britain flew sorties
– Britain lost more planes, but won.
Sortie – one mission by a single plane
Mediterranean Region
Italy declares war on France and Great
Britain in June 1940.
– Surprising since Italy sold airplane to France
earlier in the war.
France collapses later that month.
– Armistice with Germany on 22 June 1940
Battle of Britain
Winning France, Germany now wants Britain
Germany Navy and Luftwaffe target British
shipping and supply lines
– Hitler sought to destroy the Royal Air Force,
but failed.
– So the Blitz was started by the Luftwaffe.
Blitz – an air attack against London and
other British cities.
Battle of Britain
Britain used the newly invent radar system
to its advantage in defending its
homeland.
“Never in the field of human conflict was so
much owed by so many to so few. All
hearts go out to the fighter pilots…”
- Winston Churchill
Battle of the Atlantic
Maritime war began when the war began
and was dominated by the Germans.
U-boats - or submarines
Bismarck - Germany’s most powerful battleship
Both wrecked havoc on Allied shipping.
The Bismarck met its match against a British
Swordfish torpedo bomber on 26 May
1941.
US Neutrality
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
– Opposed Germany aggression, but
– Want to intervene without going to war
Congress passes neutrality acts
– Keep US out of war, popular view
– However, US starts to prepare for war and
increases production of military goods.
Lend-Lease Act of 1941
– Allowed US to lend-lease supplies to allies
National Defense
In 1940 Congress approves funds for 535
airport nationwide.
In conjunction, the runway numbering
system was changed.
– Old way – Numbers ran consecutively from
1,2,3, etc staring with the most northerly and
going counterclockwise.
– New way – Numbers indicted the compass
heading for takeoffs and landings.
Spreading War
Hitler’s Plan
– Invade and defeat the Soviets
– By doing so would strengthen Japan
– The US would be unable to fight in Europe
Us would be preoccupied with Japan
– Great Britain would be alone to flight Germany
– Germany would be able to defeat Britain.
Sunday 22 June 1941…Hitler attacks
– Soviets loses 2,000 aircraft in 2 days
Pacific War
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date
which will live in infamy…”
- FDR
The US declares war on Japan the next
day.
Several days later, Japanese allies in
Europe declare war on the US.
US is suddenly in the war in Europe.
– Not as Hitler intended
Training
In the anticipation of war…
– Congress passes the Civilian Pilot Training
(CPT) Act of 1936
Under this Act, Pres Roosevelt created the Civil Air
Patrol (CAP) in 1941
The CPT quickly lost its civilian disguise
and became strictly military
– Renamed as the War Training Service
– CPT/WTS trained over 375,000 people
Tuskegee Airmen
In anticipation of war…
– 19 July 1941, 12 African-American cadets and
1 African-American officer reported for flight
training.
Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama
Their training and service took place under
the “separate but equal” policy
– Blacks fliers separated from white fliers
– Policy led to the Tuskegee Airmen’s nickname
“Lonely Eagles”
Soviet Women Pilots
Soviet, Marina Raskova, organized a
female flying regiment.
– Supplemented the male force and to fight
along side with them in the air
The Soviets were the only country to use
women in regular air combat roles.
In the US, woman served in support, not
combat roles. They relieved men for
assignment to combat zones.
End of Section A