Chapter 1 - Air Force Heritage Flashcards Preview

WAPS > Chapter 1 - Air Force Heritage > Flashcards

Flashcards in Chapter 1 - Air Force Heritage Deck (29)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

On 1 September 1939, Adolf Hitler launched a massive assault on Poland that opened the greatest war in history and
spawned the term Blitzkrieg, or ________. (1.9.2.)

A

lightning war

2
Q

The German Air Force or Luftwaffe was commanded by Hermann Goring. What aircraft were employed during the
assault on Poland? (1.9.2.)

A
- Messerschmitt Me109
fighters to gain air superiority
- Heinkel He111
and Dornier Do17
twinengine
bombers to pound Warsaw
- Junkers Ju87
Stuka dive bombers to attack ground forces and terrorize refugees
3
Q

During World War II, the speed of the German advance and the ruthlessness of the bombing of Rotterdam shocked the
West. German paratroopers and glider forces surprised Belgium’s famed Eban Emael fortress, considered the strongest in
_______. (1.9.3.)

A

Europe

4
Q

Following the defeat of France in June 1940, the victorious Luftwaffe faced Britain’s Royal Air Force in the Battle of
Britain. This was significant because: (1.9.4.)

A

it was the first allair

campaign in history

5
Q

What was the first allair

campaign in history? (1.9.4.)

A

the Battle of Britain

6
Q

Although the German Air Force was numerically superior to the Royal Air Force, it suffered from serious weaknesses:
(1.9.5.)

A
  • poor intelligence
  • the forces in France badly needed rest and refitting
  • German training, equipment, and experience was illsuited
    for a longrange
    strategic air campaign
7
Q

During World War II, the British exploited a breakthrough in code breaking with the use of the Enigma machine. Any
information gained from Enigma was top secret and known as _______. (1.9.5.)

A

ULTRA

8
Q

When Hitler abandoned his planned invasion of Britain and Prime Minister Winston Churchill stated, “Never in the
field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”, he was referring to: (1.9.6.)

A

the Royal Air Force Fighter Command

9
Q

The fall of France galvanized President Roosevelt’s resolve to fight Nazi tyranny. He turned to airpower as a major
weapon because: (1.9.7.)

A

many Americans had isolationist sentiments

10
Q

Until December 1940, the United States built aircraft at a rate of only 800 per month. By 1942, American factories
produced 47,800 aircraft, and by 1944, an astronomical 96,300 planes. A key to Allied victory was _______. (1.9.7.)

A

American industrial production

11
Q

During World War II, in order to manage growing American airpower, a major reorganization created the United
States Army Air Forces. The appointed Commanding General was _______. (1.9.8.)

A

General Henry “Hap” Arnold

12
Q

This doctrinal blueprint provided the conceptual framework for the American air effort in World War II. It reflected
1930s Air Corps Tactical School doctrine of using massive force to destroy the enemy’s will and capability to fight
through longrange
strategic bombardment. (1.9.8.)

A

Air War Planning Document 1

13
Q

Although it was the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines that brought the U.S. into World War II,
America’s primary focus was on: (1.9.9.)

A

the war in Europe and the defeat of Germany

14
Q

As America entered World War II, the Royal Air Force tried to persuade the U.S. Army Air Forces to switch to night
operations, like those of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command. To U.S. Army Air Forces leaders, night bombing was:
(1.9.10.)

A
  • ineffective
  • inefficient
  • indiscriminate with regard to civilian casualties
15
Q

U.S. Army Air Forces leaders considered night bombing to be ineffective, inefficient, and indiscriminate with regard
to civilian casualties. As a result, World War II’s Combined Bomber Offensive, codenamed Operation PointBlank,
consisted of: (1.9.10.)

A

American precision daylight bombing and British night area bombing

16
Q

The Casablanca Directive of January 1943 inaugurated the Combined Bomber Offensive, which combined American
precision daylight bombing and British night area bombing. The Combined Bomber Offensive was codenamed: (1.9.10.)

A

Operation PointBlank

17
Q

In February 1942, the VIII Bomber Command was established, flying from bases in England. General Spaatz assumed
command of the “Mighty Eighth” and, on 17 August 1942, a dozen B17Es
conducted a strike against a railroad
marshalling yard in Rouen, France. This was significant because: (1.9.11.)

A

it was the first American operational bombing mission

18
Q

On 17 August 1942, a dozen B17Es
from the 97th Bomb Group conducted the first American operational bombing
mission, a strike against a railroad marshalling yard in Rouen, France. This mission and a series of others were known as
_______. (1.9.11.)

A

Freshman Raids

19
Q

The mission against Schweinfurt ball bearing factories, launched on 14 October 1943, effectively ended the U.S.
Army Air Forces unescorted bombing campaign because 60 bombers were shot down, seven were destroyed upon
landing, and 138 B17s
suffered battle damage. This tragic mission is known as _______. (1.9.15.)

A

Black Thursday

20
Q

During World War II, while the bulk of American airpower was devoted to daylight strategic bombing, in October
1943, bombers from the Special Flight Section, 5th Bombardment Wing, Twelfth Air Force, along with Englandbased
801st Bombardment Group “Carpetbaggers”, provided clandestine support by: (1.9.16.)

A

rescuing hundreds of downed aircrews trapped behind enemy lines

21
Q

Some technological and production breakthroughs reversed the course of the air war over the winter of 19431944.
What innovation made long range bomber escort more practical for P47
Thunderbolts? (1.9.17.)

A

75 gallon and 108 gallon

drop tanks

22
Q

Which aircraft had a bomber’s range and a fighter’s performance, revolutionized the air war over Europe, and seized
air superiority from the Luftwaffe? (1.9.18.)

A

P51 Mustang

23
Q

During World War II, in the five months preceding DDay,
this operation was launched with the objective of winning
air superiority by destroying German aircraft manufacturing plants. (1.9.20.)

A

Operation Argument

24
Q

The longest and bloodiest air campaign in history was: (1.9.23.)

A

Combined Bomber Offensive

25
Q

This Airman flew 44 missions as a gunner with the 95th Bomb Group, 19 more than required to complete his tour, and then went on to serve with the 353d Bombardment Squadron in Italy. He died during a raid against the last operational Nazi oil refinery on 15 March 1945. (1.9.24.)

A

Sergeant Sandy Sanchez

26
Q

Who was the only enlisted airman to have a B17

named for him? (1.9.24.)

A

Sergeant Sandy Sanchez

27
Q

Technical Sergeant Paul Airey and his fellow crewmen were shot down outside Vienna and he was a prisoner of war
for 10 months before being liberated by the British Army in 1945. Promoted to Chief Master Sergeant in 1962, Airey became the first _______ in 1967. (1.9.25.)

A

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

28
Q

The first Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force was: (1.9.25.)

A

Chief Master Sergeant Paul Airey

29
Q

Who was the first recipient of the Air Force POW medal? (1.9.25.)

A

Chief Master Sergeant Paul Airey