Airplanes+in+World+War+2

=THE FIRST AIR FORCES OF WORLD WAR II=

To have a successful impact on the battliefield using airplanes, nations needed to have a well organized air force. This was not the case in World War 1. Aerial warfare had just been born in World War 1. The only use for airplanes in World War 1 were reconnaissance. Thus had little impact in the battlefield and outcome of the war. Once World War 2 came around The Royal Air force of Great Britain and the Luftwaffe of Germany were astablished air forces ready for battle. The United States still had seperate air forces in the Navy and Army, but eventually organized and Army Airforce in 1941. The French actually had the most experienced and advaced airforce coming out of World War 1, but turned their attention to other areas in the military and fell behind other countries in aerial warfare. The Japanese and Soviet air forces did not contribute much advacement of aerial warfare in World War 2, with the exception of Japan's kamikaze attacks.

=AIRPLANES USES IN WAR= Strategic bombardment was often used in World War 2 by the allies. The allies often aimed at German hangars or ground forces. This strategy was continued by the United States in the Pacific. The Japanese with a poor economy were unable to obtain enough air defense to ward off United States bombers. Combat between multiple planes became common on both fronts. This type plane on plane fighting became to be known as dogfighting. Others uses were evolved from just tactical bombing. Airplanes were eventually used to support their own ground forces. Airplanes would target communication gear and stations as well as retreating troops. Although airplane reconnaissance was being used in World War 1, it was actually a continuity throughout World War 2. Planes were used to locate enemy ground forces for their own infantry to pursue and attack. The Luftwaffe of Germany were especially talented at locating enemy headquarters, communications, and airfields through reconnaissance. The German bombers would then attack their enemies headquarters and retreating troops.



=BEGINNING OF AIR TRANSPORT= A change that had eventually occurred with aircrafts in World War 2 was that airplanes were eventually used to transport soldiers. Spain was actually the first country to do this. General Francisco Franco used airplanes to bring his troops back from Morocco to Spain. The Soviet Union actually used airplanes to transport supplies and weapons to their ground forces instead of transporting their own soldiers from country to country. British and American transport forces placed high priority on delivering supplies to ground forces. However they also used planes to transport wounded soldiers back to safety, which was a new technique never before seen in aerial transportation. Instead of them being seen by a medic at the battle fields, they could be brought somewhere else for better medical attention in a reasonable time span.

=AIRPLANES THAT ENDED THE WAR= Planes evolved from carrying smaller bombs, missiles, and turrets, to be able to carry atom bombs. The United States construction of a plan to carry an atomic bomb wasn't easy. They had to build a bomb that could not only carry the bomb but to be able to to transport far enough to reach Japan before dropping it. Of course the United States built B-29s and used them to carry and drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and ended the war. Japan had no choice but to surrender knowing that United States had not only the atomic bomb but the airplane technology to drop more. Airplanes had come a long way since World War 1, when they were only experimented with. They then evolved to being in most battles whether they were used for dogfights or tactical air support, their presence was essential. It was then airplanes that forced the end of the war, and causing the end of the bloodshed.

http://youtu.be/QvYvy3fKcM8media type="custom" key="14056936" width="120" height="120"

A video showing a up close view of World War 2 Bombing in the Royal Air Force on Britain.