This vision was reflected in the air forcesponsored gulf war air power survey. The command of the air giulio douhet, joseph patrick harahan, richard h. Just three years after the end of the first world war and the first widespread use of airplanes in warfare, this new technology had yet to be fully integrated into military strategy. Aug 26, 2009 the italian general giulio douhet reigns as one of the twentieth centurys foremost strategic air power theorists. If you have access to a journal via a society or association membership, please browse to your society journal, select an article to view, and follow the instructions in this box. Reprint of the 1983 translation by staff of the united states office of air force history. Giulio douhet and strategic air force operations, in. Access to society journal content varies across our titles. The command of the air giulio douhet snippet view 1942.
General giulio douhet 30 may 1869 15 february 1930 was an italian general and air power. Aug 15, 2014 command of the air ebook written by general giulio douhet. Aboriginal, torres strait islander and other first nations people are advised that this catalogue contains names, recordings and images of deceased people and other content that may be culturally sensitive. This reprint of the 1942 english translation of douhet s works, while titled command of the air, actually consists of five separate works. In addition to the air universitys edition, the complete translation of douhet s command of the air with the 1928 additions appears in roots of strategy book 4. Commissioned into artillery and then excelled in engineering studies at graduate school. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Douhet, command of the air saass comps prep wiki fandom. A fresh look at giulio douhets command of the air michael d. The probable aspects of the war of the future, more of the same, from 1928. Except for a brief few months as the head of aviation in mussolinis government in 1922, he spent much of the rest of his life writing and publicizing his ideas on airpower. His whole conception of air war rests on the assumption that the bomber will always get through, and that the damage it can then do will crush the resistance. His book il dominio dellaria the command of the air, first published in italy in 1921, and. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. His formula for victory by gaining command of the air, neutralizing the enemys strategic centers, and maintaining the defensive on the ground while taking the offensive in the air, was the underpinning of the coalition strategy.
As such scholars as raymond flugel have pointed out, douhet s theories were crucial at a pivotal preworld war ii army air force institution, the air corps tactical school. Available in the national library of australia collection. Giulio douhet s the command of the air is a military classic. Douhet was as much the pioneer of what today we might call strategic air power as billy mitchell was for tactical air power.
Douhet used an analogy to make an argument for command of the air and to demonstrate the pervasive influence that an independent air force could have over military operation both on land and sea. Douhet was one of the most influential thinkers in the history of military air power and its potential to influence the overall outcome of a war, and is studied even today by air forces worldwide, as well as the mandatory reading lists at the us military academies. By smothering the enemys civilian centers with bombs, douhet argued the war would become so terrible that the common people comjand rise against their government, overthrow it with revolution, then sue for peace. After the war, when mussolini came to power, douhet was restored to a place of honor. He passed his remaining years writing about and speaking out for airpower. As with most theorists of war, douhet is far more often cited than studied. Oneill united states air force school of advanced military studies united states army command and general staff college fort leavenworth, kansas ay 2011 approved for public release. As such scholars as raymond flugel have pointed out, douhets theories were crucial at a pivotal preworld war ii army air force institution, the air corps tactical school. Douhet foresaw the intrinsic tugofwar between those objectives and that control of the air was the essential first duty of aviation, in that tactical air support could not function without that control. Giulio douhet and the foundations of airpower strategy, 18841939. Douhet virtually assumed the prevalence of total war. Full text of the command of the air internet archive. Jan 01, 1983 the command of the air, douhet s original 1921 air power manifesto that made him famous, plus a 1926 addendum in which he says he did not go far enough.
Among these, giulio douhet stands out as the most controversial. Oct 09, 2019 command of the air giulio douhet, charles a. In order to assure an adequate national defense, it is necessary and sufficient to be in a position in case of war to conquer the command of the air. As such scholars as raymond flugel have pointed out, douhets theories were crucial at a pivotal preworld war ii army air force institution, the. Giulio douhet and the politics of airpower request pdf. His book il dominio dellaria the command of the air, first published in italy in. Published by air university press in september 2019.
It was the first detailed analysis of the offensive and defensive employment of the air weapon. Douhet was promoted to general in 1921, the same year that he wrote command of the air. Request pdf giulio douhet and the politics of airpower the italian, giulio. Recapitulation, a polemic on the same subject from 1929, in which he replies to his critics. Pixley is italian general giulio douhets airpower theory still relevant after eighty years. To gain command of the air, he said, was to render an enemy harmless. Douhets basic work, the command of the air, published in 1921, was the first comprehensive analysis of airpower. The italian general giulio douhet reigns as one of the twentieth centurys foremost strategic air power theorists. He believed that the first effort of air forces was to conquer the command of the airthat is, to put the. Aug 12, 2015 in 1921, a relatively unknown italian airman named giulio douhet wrote a book titled command of the air, which proposed an air power doctrine that envisioned the systematic, relentless bombing of.
Although technological developments have made some of. To critics, the name douhet is synonymous with a dark side of airpower. The legendary and controversial airpower theorist is debated. Douhet saw the pitfalls of allowing air power to be fettered by ground commanders and began to advocate the creation of a separate air. This updated english translation edition of the command of the air builds upon douhet s original ideas by incorporating four separate books.
The probable aspects of the war of the future book three. Douhets final formulations in his bookthe command of the air 1921. Douhet s most noted book is il dominio dellaria 1921. Giulio douhet, an italian army officer who never learnt to fly, first published one of military theorys most recognized and controversial works on airpower, the command of the air, in 1921.
Command of the air by giulio douhet and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Douhet s theories on airpower have had a lasting effect on airpower employment. The air force that could achieve command of the air by tje the enemy air arm into extinction would doom its enemy to perpetual bombardment. The command of the air is the greatest military treatise on air war ever written a dogmatic manifesto promising victory through strategic bombing giulio douhet 18691930, air wars greatest prophet, ought to have been a first world war fighter ace. After he retired from the military, he continued to write on the strategic aspects of air power. Although technological developments have made some of his ideas obsolete, his theory of the important role of strategic bombing in. The persian gulf war is an example of what douhet predicted airpower could accomplish. Giulio douhets the command of the air is a military classic. The major premise of douhets theory was his belief that during war, a quick victory could be won by early air attack on the enemys vital centers, while surface forces worked to contain the enemy on the ground. Pdf giulio douhet and the influence of airpower education in. Douhet was a visionary, and like most true visionaries got almost as much wrong as he got right. They say he articulated a vision glorifying the knockout blow with fleets of bombers prowling the skies, burning.
Yet while his first precept command of the air has been demonstrated to be. Douhets theories on airpower have had a lasting effect on airpower employment. Command of the air and lessons for cyber policymakers. Douhet argued that it was impossible for a determined aerial defense to reduce the force of eventual aerochemical offensives against our country to a point where they would be unimportant and not dangerous to its safety. Giulio douhet, an italian army officer who never learnt to fly, first published one of military theory s most recognized and controversial works on airpower, the command of the air, in 1921. The probable aspects of the war of the future 143 book three. Published in 1921, the command of the air asserted the decisiveness of strategic bombardment before billy mitchell and other air leaders had given that subject any detailed thought. Oneill united states air force school of advanced military studies united states army command and general staff college. Americas joint force and the domains of warfare the. Douhet saw the pitfalls of allowing air power to be fettered by ground commanders and began to advocate the creation of a separate air arm commanded by airmen. Giulio douhet command of the air pdf the command of the air is the greatest military treatise on air war ever written a dogmatic manifesto. Command of the airusaf warrior studies douhet, giulio on. Command of the air chose to depict an american f15 eagle on the cover, perhaps as a thinly veiled hint of the applicability of the books contents to twentyfirst century u. The command of the air 1 part i 3 chapter i the new form of war 3 ii the independent air force 34 iii aerial warfare 49 iv the organization of aerial warfare 69 part ii 93 book two.
The major premise of douhet s theory was his belief that during war, a quick victory could be won by early air attack on the enemys vital centers, while surface forces worked to contain the enemy on the ground. The air force commnd could achieve command of the air by bombing the enemy air arm into extinction would doom its enemy to perpetual bombardment. Gates brown discusses the promises of airpower theorists like giulio douhet, who argued that air forces could end wars before traditional military forces were ready to begin fighting. Recapitulation 209 introduction 211 chapter i auxiliary aviation 215 ii aerial defense 235 iii. Jun 23, 2019 command of the air giulio douhet, charles a. Other articles where the command of the air is discussed. Cowardmccann, incorporated, 1942 aeronautics, military 394 pages. This reprint of the 1942 english translation of douhets works, while titled command of the air. Further, did douhet himself consider his theory relevant beyond fascist italy in the postgreat war period. Personally, i consider this work to be on the same shelf as clausewitz and sun tzu.
He believed that the first effort of air forces was to conquer the command of the airthat is, to put the enemy in a position where he is unable to fly, while preserving for ones self the ability to do so. Air power could break a peoples will by destroying a countrys vital centers. The air force that could achieve command of the air by bombing the enemy air arm into extinction would doom its enemy to perpetual bombardment. The four forces airpower theory a monograph by major brian p. Brodie, heritage of douhet, 64, air force art collection in it is the command of the air 33 only natural that the army and navy should wish to be provided with aerial auxiliaries to assist their operations. The command of the air is the greatest military treatise on air war ever written a dogmatic manifesto promising victory through strategic. The command of the air, part i 1921 the command of the air, part ii 1927 probable aspects of future war 1928 recapitulation 1929 the war of 19 1930 not read for class context.
Giulio douhet and the end of the pacific war the diplomat. Giulio douhet douhet was strongly influenced by mahan, especially his notion of the command of the sea. Douhet, who argued that air forces could end wars before traditional military forces were ready to begin fighting. The command of the air, discussing the air as a new theatre of war, the importance of an independent air force, and the. The strategic bombing campaign against germany during. Aug 03, 2019 the command of the air by giulio douhet. Mar 15, 2010 buy the command of the air by douhet, giulio, harahan, joseph patrick, kohn, richard h. Command of the air by giulio douhet, paperback barnes.
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