Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Walker
We are just playing with words here Tony, but you used the term "brain washing" in referring to decisions made by US senior military. Arriving at the same faulty conclusion through the same faulty thought process (if that is what actually happened) is hardly brain washing. If you called what appears to have happened simultaneously in the US and the UK the result of people of similar backgrounds reaching similar conclusions when presented with similar data, I would appreciate that as an interesting view point. When you allege active malfeasance in this process you lose all credibility in my eyes.
And are you serious when you talk about the "the VVS and Luftwaffe developed their part in the war-winning all-arms equation"? VVS maybe, but hardly the Luftwaffe.
The VVS suffered much higher casualties than the RAF in part due to their subservient role to the Army in the military and economical decision processes within the USSR. Given the massive casualties also suffered by the Russian Army and the Russian people, I don't see how the Russian process offers any advantage over what was done in the US and the UK. Destroying a bridge here or a pillbox there doesn't win wars. Sustained effort wins wars. The Allies (including the Russians) could do it, the Germans could not. The reasons for that are far more complex than anything we are discussing here.
Wars kill people. Arguing about whether it is better to kill these people or those people dishonours the deaths on all sides. Making those arguements with incorrect facts annoys me, that is why I post here from time to time.
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You ignore, or skate over, the RAF culture which was in many/most/all (take your pick) respects a cult created by Trenchard. He selected the RAF's leaders and indoctrinated/conditioned/brainwashed them (you choose) in his beliefs at Cranwell. These leaders could never emotionally go against Trenchard's beliefs which were formulated by Slessor.
The USAAF in its driving ambition to replicate the RAF's independence from the Army, copied or imitated these RAF beliefs.
The use of the word 'brainwashed' was extended to the US Air Corps as an explanation why Trenchard's beliefs should have been transferred across national boundaries.
The rational approach to the use of air power was that which was taught in the VVS and Luftwaffe. In those organisations it was part of all-arms. Russians and Germans were never tempted by the Trenchardist belief that air power could win wars on its own and uniquely did not need to engage with the enemy's main force.
If Trenchard had never existed, the USAAF would never have adopted Trenchardist beliefs, because only a nut could have come up with them. And only a Churchill would have given Trenchard's beliefs the time of day.
Tony
Tony