NOTES TO TABLE 36

This is the first of a series of tables breaking down the Naval air offensive by types of target attacked, regardless of geographical location of the target. For the most part this series contains data only on number of sorties attacking targets, and bomb tonnage expended. Data on types of bombs, and on rockets, ammunition and torpedoes expended on various types of targets, will be found in the next section of the report.

Table 36 shows where carrier-based and land-based offensive effort was directed in each year of the war. Noteworthy is the concentration of both carrier and land-based offensives on enemy shipping, particularly heavy warships, during the first year of the war, and the increased emphasis on land targets thereafter. Enemy airfields came in for heavy attention in 1943, received less attention in 1944, but in 1945, to counter the kamikaze menace, became the principal carrier target again. In 1943 military installations became the primary target of land-based planes; and except for the attacks by VPB, shipping targets became of continuously less importance for land-based planes.

For the carriers, shipping remained an important target until the end of the war, though most important in 1944 because of dwindling opportunities for major attacks thereafter. For land-based planes most shipping attacks after 1944 were on small vessels, the only types ordinarily within range.

The table makes clear that Naval aviation's most important offensive function in terms of volume was reduction of enemy ground defenses, in direct support of our own ground forces or before their arrival in the landing area. Second in importance was destruction or neutralization of enemy air force installations, and planes on the ground. Third was destruction of enemy warships and merchant vessels, particularly of the larger types. Miscellaneous land targets, including transportation, harbor and industrial areas, were attacked in the least volume.

It may be noted that airfields (in attacks by carrier planes) and small merchant vessels generally receive a lower share of the total bomb tonnage than of the attack sorties, while military targets and heavy warships received more tonnage. This results from extensive use of VF rockets and strafing against the first and lighter classes of targets, and maximum bomber forces and heavy bomb loads against the heavier targets.