Page 229 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol V

2006 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

cooperation between ground attack aircraft. The Japan- strategic bombing became the most effective way of
ese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, using destroying German capability, using the B-17 and
precision reconnaissance and fighters armed with tor- B-25 bombers in formation, in such operations as the
pedoes, destroyed most American combat aircraft in the 1,000-plane raid over Cologne in May 1942 and
Pacific, and proved that aircraft would be a premier tac- the Regensburg-Schweinfurt mission in August, launched
tic in modern warfare. from bases in England. Since escort fighters did not have
The Second World War built on the lessons of the the range required, bombers carried their own defenses,
First, though many ideas had become obsolete. For the like the B-17 with a ten-man crew armed with .50-caliber
Allies, twelve-man fighter squadrons protected supply guns. Gliders were first used for silent troop drops, and
lines against the Japanese fleet in the Pacific. The devel- P-51 Tankbusters were very effective against German
opment of radar by the British in 1939 changed the ele- panzer divisions.
ment of surprise. Radio communication advances Transport pilots played an important role.The Chinese
allowed immediate contact with pilots and ground con- army was resupplied entirely by air—one of the greatest
trol to pinpoint enemy aircraft in flight. Long-range military achievements in history.Allied forces used C-47s

American liberator bombers and P-40 fighters at a base in China, 1943.