Viewing page 2 of 150

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

2.
command of an army in the field, yet, without criticizing, it is believed that most generals and most admirals would be willing to undertake to operate an air force.

In order to better understand the tactical employment of aircraft, it is necessary to have a reasonably accurate conception of the characteristics of the airplane, and the type employed by each branch of aviation, of the balloon and airship.

The general principles underlying the design and development of aircraft were presented to you by General Patrick a few days ago. Consequently, I will not go into these details again. From the data presented to you, you will realize that it is necessary to decide, from a purely tactical standpoint, what purposes the airplane serves in war, and to build as many types with appropriate characteristics as there are classes for their use. On account of this, we have divided the air service, or the work of the airplane in war, into four branches: Observation, Pursuit, Bombardment, and Attack, each of which demands airplanes of different characteristics, and, therefore, of different design. In some cases there are sub-branches that are wide enough apart in character to require modifications of the branch type of airplane for their maximum usefulness.

In order to obtain a clear idea of the appearance and characteristics of these types, I want to show you certain slides which will illustrate that used in each branch.