1. Compare American operations in WWI with contemporary European operational concepts.
Pershing stressed that the AEF should not adopt European "trench warfare" tactics, but should stress "open warfare" maneuvers.
Pershing wanted his men to practice large-unit assaults with emphasis on rifle fire and and artillery support, while the Allies stressed small-unit raiding with emphasis on grenades, mortars, and automatic rifles.
The tactics went badly on the St. Mihiel offensive on Sept 12-16 1918
MontFaucon
Bad news for Meuse-Argonne
Demonstrated difficulty with outdated tactics attacking entrenched troops
The objective of the offensive was the railway hub at Sedan, which provided supply support for the German armies in the southeastern sector of the Western Front.
The attack was renewed on October 4 against 20 German line and reserve divisions. Casualties and exhaustion were such that General Pershing required 90,000 replacements, but he could obtain only 45,000 until November 1.
2. What role did air prophets envision for the airplane? What type of airplane were they talking about and what was the rationale for this faith?
Taking out industrial centers, ruining morale, ground support, etc.
B.G. Billy Mitchell sank ships with bombs
Norden Bombsight
Army Air Service signal corps, 12,00 pilots
Navy reluctant to allow airplane funding
Court martial of Mitchell
Bomber will always get through; ignored new fighter/flak development.
Handley Page Type O
He was convinced that a force of anti-shipping airplanes could defend a coastline with more economy than a combination of coastal guns and naval vessels. A thousand bombers could be built at the same cost as one battleship, and could sink that battleship.[
Ostfriesland, Helgoland class, sunk by Mitchell with Martin MB-2
It was already flooding, so it was an unrealistic contrived scenario. He broke rules and used 2,000-pound bombs