Viewing page 14 of 47

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

procedures. But no one was seeing, at that time, the strategic growth of air weapons to be achieved through a healthy technological focus on that arm.

Today we view, from the vantage point of hindsight, the tremendous though retarded growth of the airplane as a military weapon system. It has been my privilege to see it move forward from the slow, underpowered, kite-like air vehicle in which I began my flying career, to the decisive capabilities of our present Air Power forces. I have seen its roles and missions expand from the reconnaissance and observation through the fire power support of surface forces to the air war of World War II. And I sometimes wonder how great our profit might have been, had we been able to give a little more timely recognition, through foresight, to the military potential of air weapons. Certainly earlier and healthier budgetary support would have accelerated its rate of growth. For the conduct of both World Wars the profit from timely provision of a significant strength in the air weapon system should have been incalculably large,--for neither were acceptably prepared.

* * * * * * *

105