Battle Experience V's Sound Tactics

[Christer Bergström]

Soviet airmen drew correct conclusions, but some of those were blocked by conservative thinking in the upper echelons of the Soviet military.

They were not alone. Just look at RAF Fighter Command's "Fighter Area Tactics"... Similar to the question of the V formation for fighters, converging guns to 400 yards in RAF Fighter Command, the inability within the RAF and the USAAF to accept the need for fighter escort for bombers (before it was too late), etc: Conservatism blocked new ideas. Own battle experience benefits the pilots, but tactical conclusions must be drawn also by studying all conflicts, including those where you are not involved yourself.

On the other hand, the Soviets understood the need for close-support (assault) aircraft better than most other air forces by that time. And the Italians and Japanese (and the Soviets!) realised the need for torpedo planes earlier than most others (including the Germans).

Still, the Luftwaffe can not be regarded as the standard. Under Göring's and Milch's influence, the Luftwaffe was more adaptive to new ideas than probably any other air force by that time - with the possible exception of the Finnish Air Force.