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the importance of aviation but it was nearly impossible for him to view it in any other light than as an adjunct to facilitate the action of the Infantry in much the same way that tanks, machine guns, chemicals, or any other weapons were regarded, thus missing the point that ground forces in order to be successful must not only be assisted by aviation in order to properly carry out its mission but that this auxiliary aviation attached to an army was essential to its very existence.
Now that the war is ten years behind us, practically the same conditions, but in a different degree, exist with regard to aviation as before the war. In so far as auxiliary aviation is concerned, that is, air units necessary for the proper operation of the ground forces of an army, or for a fleet, its importance, it is believed, is throughly appreciated. However, during this ten years through technical development of aircraft, aviation has again forged ahead and now provides a means of conducting independent air operations, distinct, separate and in addition to those required by auxiliary aviation for the Army and Navy.
The opportunity now exists in time of peace for the Army to develop the Air Force for these independent operations without waiting for the next war to find us in the same position that the last one found us with regard to auxiliary aviation. It will be necessary to have an efficient Air Force, properly equipped, organized, and trained, if we are to fight the next war, should it come, on any basis of equality with a first-class nation. If such an Air Force is not built, we may expect to start the next war where the Armistice found us at the completion of the World War.

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