Operational Level Air Commanders: A Search for the Elements of Genius - Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, Admiral Raymond Spruance, and General George Kenney, Battle of Britain, Midway, Papua Campaign

Nonfiction, History, Military, Aviation, World War II
Cover of the book Operational Level Air Commanders: A Search for the Elements of Genius - Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, Admiral Raymond Spruance, and General George Kenney, Battle of Britain, Midway, Papua Campaign by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781370065714
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: October 2, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781370065714
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: October 2, 2016
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

This important report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. One of the recurring themes of military literature is a search for the qualities and attributes of successful commanders. Carl von Clausewitz argues that some commanders possess a genius for war. Others argue that battle and campaign outcomes are merely functions of luck. Although this debate has largely been confined to war on land and at sea, it clearly has relevance for air warfare as well. Is the outcome of an air campaign a function of luck, or is there a genius for air command? This thesis attempts to discover the elements of genius for air command at the operational level of war. To that end, the paper investigates the theory of genius for war in all three mediums, land, sea and air in order to develop a hypothetical set of traits or characteristics. These traits are categorized into J.F.C. Fuller's cognitive, moral, and physical domains. Three selected commanders are then chosen for an empirical investigation. The standard for this analysis is that each investigated air commander must achieve significant results with limited resources during a an air campaign. This precondition minimizes the likely effects of luck. The commanders analyzed within this study are Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, Adm Raymond A. Spruance, and Gen George C. Kenney. Finally, a comparative analysis identifies the common elements of genius for operational level air commanders. The analysis also compares the identified elements of genius for air command with surface command and draws several conclusions. The thesis concludes with a discussion of implications and a recommendation for potential operational level air commanders to study and reflect upon the nature of this activity through professional education and self-study.
Operational Level Air Commanders * Chapter 1 - Introduction * Chapter 2 - Theory * Chapter 3 - Dowding: Command Performance for Defense * Chapter 4 - Spruance: In Command at Midway * Chapter 5 - Kenney and The Fighting Fifth in the Papuan Campaign * Chapter 6 - Analysis * Chapter 7 - Conclusions and Implications
Why is it important to study this issue of genius in air commanders? The basic reason is that war is a complicated business, and air war is particularly complex. According to Dr. Harold Winton of the School of Advanced Airpower Studies (SAAS)
Airpower, by its very nature, is an extremely diverse phenomenon. Its application includes not only the dynamics of air-to-air warfare, but also its intersections with all other forms of warfare. And like other forms of warfare, it is intimately connected with political as well as military realities. These facts dictate that its theory must comprehend its relationships with warfare on land, on sea, and in space as well as war in the air.2
Since it is complicated, it takes people with fully developed aptitudes for it to conduct it well.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This important report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. One of the recurring themes of military literature is a search for the qualities and attributes of successful commanders. Carl von Clausewitz argues that some commanders possess a genius for war. Others argue that battle and campaign outcomes are merely functions of luck. Although this debate has largely been confined to war on land and at sea, it clearly has relevance for air warfare as well. Is the outcome of an air campaign a function of luck, or is there a genius for air command? This thesis attempts to discover the elements of genius for air command at the operational level of war. To that end, the paper investigates the theory of genius for war in all three mediums, land, sea and air in order to develop a hypothetical set of traits or characteristics. These traits are categorized into J.F.C. Fuller's cognitive, moral, and physical domains. Three selected commanders are then chosen for an empirical investigation. The standard for this analysis is that each investigated air commander must achieve significant results with limited resources during a an air campaign. This precondition minimizes the likely effects of luck. The commanders analyzed within this study are Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding, Adm Raymond A. Spruance, and Gen George C. Kenney. Finally, a comparative analysis identifies the common elements of genius for operational level air commanders. The analysis also compares the identified elements of genius for air command with surface command and draws several conclusions. The thesis concludes with a discussion of implications and a recommendation for potential operational level air commanders to study and reflect upon the nature of this activity through professional education and self-study.
Operational Level Air Commanders * Chapter 1 - Introduction * Chapter 2 - Theory * Chapter 3 - Dowding: Command Performance for Defense * Chapter 4 - Spruance: In Command at Midway * Chapter 5 - Kenney and The Fighting Fifth in the Papuan Campaign * Chapter 6 - Analysis * Chapter 7 - Conclusions and Implications
Why is it important to study this issue of genius in air commanders? The basic reason is that war is a complicated business, and air war is particularly complex. According to Dr. Harold Winton of the School of Advanced Airpower Studies (SAAS)
Airpower, by its very nature, is an extremely diverse phenomenon. Its application includes not only the dynamics of air-to-air warfare, but also its intersections with all other forms of warfare. And like other forms of warfare, it is intimately connected with political as well as military realities. These facts dictate that its theory must comprehend its relationships with warfare on land, on sea, and in space as well as war in the air.2
Since it is complicated, it takes people with fully developed aptitudes for it to conduct it well.

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Manuals: U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Marine Corps Values: A User's Guide for Discussion Leaders (Value-Added Professional Format Series) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Armies in Homeland Security: American and European Perspectives - Terrorism, UK Armed Forces, Germany's Military, NATO, Ukrainian, Romania, France, Hungary, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria, Soviet Legacy, EU by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Analysis of Health Service Support with Frontier Surgeons and Ambulance Corps to 1876 Centennial Campaign: Sheridan's War Against the Sioux and Cheyenne Native American on Indian Hunting Grounds by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century FEMA Study Course: Workplace Security Awareness (IS-906) - Access Control, ID Badges, Scenarios and Procedures, Bomb Threat Checklist, Identity Theft by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Distributed Maritime Capability: Optimized U.S. Navy - U.S. Coast Guard Interoperability, A Case in the South China Sea - Currently Not Adequately Prepared for Conflict with China's PLA Navy by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Political Revolution and Social Communication Technologies: Assessment of Relationship Between Cell Phone Use, Democratic and Autocratic Revolutions from 1980 to 2015 by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 2011 Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs by the GAO - Army, Navy, Air Force Weapons Systems including UAS, Missiles, Ships, F-35, Carriers, NPOESS, Osprey by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Russian Military and the Georgia War: Lessons and Implications - Ukraine and Crimea, NATO and EU, Putin and Obama, S-300 Missiles, Yushchenko, Yanukovich, Abkhazia, South Ossetia by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) Papers - Ground Truth in Building Human Security - Land Rights, Cadastres and Cadastral Systems, Land Tenure, USAID by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Liver Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Military Chaplains as Peace Builders: Embracing Indigenous Religions in Stability Operations - Proposal for Expanded Role as Religious Liaisons for Local Cultural Relationships, Promotion of Goodwill by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia: Civic Action - Vietnam War, Nation Building Amid Instability, Pacification, Tet Offensive, President Kennedy, Johnson by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Adapting Unconventional Warfare Doctrine to Cyberspace Operations: Examination of Hacktivist Based Insurgencies - Cyber Warfare Roles of Russia, China, Analysis of 2014 Hong Kong Umbrella Revolution by Progressive Management
Cover of the book U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism: U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2003: Basrah, Baghdad and Beyond - First Stage of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kinetic Phase of the War to Topple Saddam Hussein by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy