A.W.P.D.-42
REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR ASCENDANCY

Tab P
Aircraft Required for Ground-Air Support

SUPPORT AVIATION

I. Discussion

1. Requirements are based, on the minimum necessary to:

a. Support the air offensive, including such ground action as required to seize and hold base areas.

b. Training with Army Ground and Naval Forces, to include reasonable provision for Hemisphere Defense.

c. Support combined operations in final phases.

2. Light and Dive Bombardment requirements total 35 Groups, or one Group per three Divisions for the 108 Division AGF plan. The proportion of dive bombers is larger in the Japanese theatre because of relative weakness of fighter opposition and the preponderance of naval targets. Proportions are subject to change due to present low production of level types, but this is counterbalanced by use of Medium Bombardment Groups for similar tactical functions.

3. Observation requirements are based on one squadron per Division for the 108 Division program. By retaining a smaller proportion in Hemisphere Defense and training, additional squadrons are available in theatres for Corps and Army use.

4. Troop Carrier requirements are based on minimum Troop Carrier needs in each theatre, and on intra-theatre air-borne supply. It has been assured all inter-theatre airline supply will be furnished by ATC cargo aircraft. There is thus no requirement for Transport Groups as distinguished from Troop Carrier Groups in any theatre. The Japanese theatre requirement is based on one wing in Burma, one in China, two for Australia and the island area north and east thereof, and envisages a rather large requirement for air-borne supply and movement of units.

Assuming two round trips per day, 300 mile radius of action, 75% planes in commission, and the C-47 towing one glider, one group equals 216,000 ton miles per day. One Wing carries one-half airborne division per trip or one division per day. Thus the four Wings in the Japanese Theatre could move four airborne divisions or 6,480 tons of supplies 300 miles per day.

5. Photo requirements appear high, but the efficiency of the air offensive is tremendously enhanced by intelligence photographs before and after bombardment missions.

II. SUPPORT AVIATION REQUIREMENTS

Phase		Light Level Bombers				Dive Bombers				Observation *				Troop Carrier							Photographic
Phase		Gp	Ap	Res	Att	Gp	Ap	Res	Att	Gp	Ap	Res	Att	Gp	Ap	Res	Att	Gliders	Res	Att	Gp	Ap	Res	Att
1.	Air Offensive against Germany – U.K.	1	64	32	13					1	84	13	4								4	208	104	42
2.	Air Offensive against Germany - North Africa	2	128	64	26					2	168	84	34	4	208	104	31	416	208	62	0	26	13	5
3.	Air Offensive against Germany - Middle East	4	256	128	52									4	208	104	31	416	208	62	0	26	13	5
4.	Air Operations Supporting limited offensive Japanese Theatre	2	128	64	26	7	672	336	134	5	420	210	84	16	832	416	124	1,664	832	248	4	208	104	42
5.	Air Operations on Hemisphere Defense and Joint Training	5	320	48	16	5	480	72	24	12	1,008	150	50	10	520	78	16	1,040	520	31	3	156	23	8
6.	Air Offensive against Japan	Same as Item 4
7.	Support of combined Air-Ground Offensive against Germany. (Groups in Phase 1 will also used in this phase)	4	256	128	51	4	384	192	77	7	588	294	118	8	416	208	62	832	416	124
TOTALS		18	1,152	464	184	16	1,536	600	235	27	0	751	290	42	2,184	910	264	4,368	2,184	527	12	624	257	102
NOTES: Gp – Groups Ap – Airplanes Res - Reserve (50% Active theatre, 15% other) Att - Attrition (20% active, 5% other, Troop Carrier 15% and 3%) * (Observation airplanes required in the ratio of 2 light bombers – 2 fighters – [illegible may be 3 or 7?] Liaison type)

A.W.P.D.-42REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR ASCENDANCY Tab PAircraft Required for Ground-Air Support

SUPPORT AVIATION

A.W.P.D.-42
REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR ASCENDANCY

Tab P
Aircraft Required for Ground-Air Support