Japan’s army had developed its air forces for continental warfare with the Soviets. Air units were subordinate to ground force commanders, not independent entities on a footing equal to ground and naval commanders. Absent such construction units, the air force would have to use captured bases.Īrmy air forces were doctrinally anachronistic. If Japan was to seize an empire, its airfield builders would have to accompany the fighting forces every step of the way. Even its short-lived lead in aerial tactics collapsed once the Guadalcanal campaign began.Ĭompletely aside from having an industrial base able to produce enough aircraft, a nation’s air force needs to be balanced between aircraft, combat and maintenance crews, and air bases. Neither its army nor its naval air arm was prepared for the duration, violence or sophistication of the war to come. Japan, although seemingly advanced in aerial tactics, entered the war with a narrow aerial doctrine, insufficient numbers of aircraft and those of generally poor design (excluding the Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero, of course), too few aircrews and inadequate logistics for a war of attrition. Exchange of secrets and experiences, the common use of airplanes and other instruments, could not even be thought of.” Masataka Chihaya recalled, “ almost fought. To say that the Japanese army and navy did not cooperate on aerial matters would be a serious understatement. But as Commander Masatake Okumiya charged, “The Pacific War was started by men who did not understand the sea, and fought by men who did not understand the air.” He might well have added that the war was planned by men who did not understand industry, manpower and logistics. The Japanese made gaining and maintaining control of the air as much a requirement in their basic war strategy as they did the destruction of the U.S. World War II in the Pacific was a fight to seize and defend airfields. Japan's Fatally Flawed Air Forces in World War II Close
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