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ineffective except in rare instances.  Bombs were then devised which could be dropped from the plane.  In early bombing raids the bombs were carried in the cockpit of ordinary fighter planes and heaved over the side by the observer whenever he judged himself to be in a position to hit his target.  This was a clumsy, inaccurate system, however, that soon lead to the design of an entirely different craft made for bombing alone, and equipped with machine guns for protection.  These planes, which were growing larger and larger as the war progressed, were equipped with bomb racks controlled by mechanisms within the bomber, and carried crews of from three to six men.  They were  utilized at first as lone raiders, depending on stealth and surprise to accomplish their tasks, but by 1917 there had evolved the system of formation attacks by squadrons of bombers escorted by fighter planes as a protective screen.  The Germans used this system first to great advantage, and by concentrating very large flights were able not only to concentrate the power of the bombing assault, but have enough fighters to sweep the skes of the opposition.

In addition to the duties of Reconnaissance, the original role of the airplane, had been added the duty of patrol, straffing and bombing, with the Bombardment arm always tending to become more and more important.

After the war the Air Services of all countries began to experiment more and more with the development of bombing planes of increased power and destructive ability.  It was realized that it was increasingly possible for planes to inflict very heavy damage on the enemy from the air.

The development of bombsights by all the major powers was to a large degree responsible for this.  The American bombsight was recognized as being probably the most accurate of any developed in this period.  Accuracy in hitting a predetermined target was coupled with increased altitude which made the planes more safe from enemy fighters and antiaircraft attack.  Increased speed and range of the planes has developed down until the present time, when every belligerent possesses bombers capable of flying immense distances with heavy bomb loads.

The United States was among the first to develop the art of dive bombing, wherein the plane is pointed downward at the target and releases its bomb very low, depending upon the tremendous speed of the dive for protection.  The dive bomber is very accurate inasmuch as the pilot has the target before him on the way down and does not release his bombs  until just above it.  It remained for the Germans to develop this to the highest, and it was employed with great success in the battle of France.  Many military experts say that the Stuka dive bomber is the greatest single contribution of the war to air combat.  The Germans also experimented with and developed the use of air-borne soldiers, utilizing the parachute, originally a safety device, as an instrument for the dropping of offensive men behind the enemy lines.  The Russians also have used this extensively, and paratroops are not a part of every belligerent Army.  Troop transports capable of carrying many men, supplies and equipment have also been developed, and in the battle of Crete the Germans used air-borne troops to carry the brunt of the battle.

The Japanese and British have both added chapters to the development of air combat by the use of the torpedo-carrying planes as an effective weapon with which to attack enemy warcraft which are not heavily protected by fighter planes.  The English at Taranto and the Japanese at Pearl Harbor and off Malaya demonstrated that unprotected warships can be sunk with relative ease by planes of this type unless they are in turn protected by fighter planes based either on land or on accompanying aircraft carriers.

The day of the spectacular individual air "ace" has apparently closed, as pilots are taught more and more to fly and to fight in absolute formation.  Formations are increasing in size as the strength of the warring nations in the air continues to grow.

There has been a growing believe on the part of military men that the day of air power in combat is only begun, and that this war will produce innovations and changes equally as great as those produced in the World War.  It is certain that each day, all over America, more and more fighters, bombardiers, navigators, observers, gunners, mechanics and technicians are being trained for whatever role shall be assigned them in America's growing air armada.

CHIEFS OF THE AIR CORPS (Now Army Air Forces)

During the World War, Army Aviation was divided into the Bureau of Military Aeronautics, directed by Major General William L. Kenly, and the Bureau of Aircraft Production, directed by Mr. John D. Ryan, the copper magnate.  With the advent of peace, these bureaus were consolidated under one title — Air Service — under the command of Major General Charles T. Menoher, who had commanded the 42nd (Rainbow) Division overseas.

On October 4, 1921, General Menoher was succeeded by Major General Mason M. Patrick.  He remained in command until his retirement on December 13, 1927, and was succeeded by Major General James E. Fechet, who served until his retirement in 1931.

Major General Benjamin D. Foulois served for four years, until December, 1935, when he was succeeded by Major General Oscar Westover, who served until his death in a flying accident in 1938.  At that time Major General (now Lieutenant General) H. H. Arnold took over, and to him has fallen the immense task of directing the Air Forces through the present period of war.

[[image - photograph of 8 men in uniform with planes]]
[[caption]] 96th Aero Squadron officers (Lieutenant Samuel Lunt, fourth from right. [[/caption]]