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[[Left Column]]
Letter from Director of Air Service.

(f) Is it essential, in order to establish battle control, that the air force, equally with the other branches, must fully understand its exact functions in working wi with the other branches, know their needs, be in full sympathy with them, think in the same military atmosphere and have the same esprit de corps?

(g) If the above conditions are essential, can they be brought about in any force unless it is an integral part of the command, not only during battle but also during the entire period of its doctrinal training?
[[/Left Column]]

[[Middle Column]]
General Pershing's Reply.

(f) An air force, as well as all other branches of the military organization must fully understand its exact functions in working with other branches, must know the needs of other branches, be in full sympathy with them, think in the same military atmosphere, and have the same esprit de corps in order that effective battle control may be established.

(g) No such force can realize the above conditions unless it be an integral part of the command not only during battle but also during the entire period of doctrinal training.
[[/Middle Column]]

[[Right Column]]
Comment

(f) All that is stated in the reply is quite true, in fact esprit de corps is of more importance, we believe, in the Air Force than in any other branch of the national fighting machine. Pride in the equipment and pride in the personnel will be main factors in carrying the pilots and machines swiftly through the air at all altitudes, working in the three dimensions of space, and bring victory to the cause. The Air Force of the Army, however, will be only a small portion of the great Air Force of the fighting machine.

(g) the military Air Force, to realize the conditions mentioned, will of necessity be an integral part of the command for tactical purposes, both before and during battle. Certain portions of the great Air Force, however, principally that portion which fights enemy aerial forces in the air, irrespective of the land or sea services, will have little of nothing to do with the Army. During the war pursuit aviation was called upon to fly not only over widely scattered divisions but even far separated army fronts on the German side. Richtoffen's pursuit aviation moved from the north to the south of the battle front and back again at will irrespective of divisional or even army internal arrangement because this force was fighting distinctively aerial opponents.
[[/Right Column]]