Airpower and the Cult of the Offensive

Major Carter explores three case studies that have important similarities: the doctrine of Great Britain's Royal Air Force from 1918 to 1938, the Israeli Air Force's strategy from 1967 to 1973, and the United States Air Force's strategy from 1953 to 1965. He begins by establishing the theoretical background necessary for case study analysis. He dissects the relationship between offense and defense to discover that airpower defense enjoys neither an advantage of position nor of time. He examines the nature of offense and defense as they apply to airpower and offers reasons military organization may prefer offensive doctrines. Major Carter identifies the elements and implications of the cult of the offensive.