Case Studies in the Achievement of Air Superiority - Air Force ...

AIR SUPERIORITY
Such air resources will be in support of his army and not under his command.
But through his Air H.Q., the army commander, can obtain the support of the
whole striking force in the theatre of operations because of the flexibility of air
power.
Once this flexibility is destroyed, or is negated in any way, then the successful
outcome of the battle becomes enda11gered.~3
Coningham amplified Montgomery’s remarks, stating quite simply:
“The Soldier commands the land forces, the Airman commands the air
forces: both commanders work together and operate their respective forces
in accordance with the combined Army-Air plan, the whole operation being
directed by the Army Commander.” Noting “fundamental” differences
between ground and air operations, the knowledgeable RAF leader suggested
that while the army fights the land battle, the air force must fight two
battles. It must first destroy the enemy air force either on the ground or in
the air to secure air superiority. Once achieved, then the full weight of the
air force could be directed at attacking enemy ground forces. He refuted
the notion that any single officer had the skills to command both an army
and an air force at the same time, for it required a lifetime of study “for a
sailor, a soldier, or airman to learn his profession,” in what Coningham
termed “this technical age.” To make certain that everybody know about
the doctrine and methods of the Western Desert Air Force, as reflected at
the Tripoli meeting, Coningham sent copies of his own speech to every
ranking officer in Tunisia.”
Eisenhower, after consulting Spaatz and Tedder, agreed that the
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and his men in North Africa.
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