THE 1920s & 30s HISTORY OF AIR POWER

1. 1920s: RAF imperial ‘air control’ used to police colonies. 

2. 1921 Mar: Douhet’s The Command of the Air champions strategic bombing. 

3. 1921 Jul: Mitchell’s ship-sinking trials advertise air power at sea. 

4. 1926 Jul: US Army Air Corps established. 

5. 1931 Sep: Air Corps Tactical School codifies targeting and bomber doctrine. 

6. 1933 Jan: Luftwaffe founded with tactical air-support focus. 

7. 1935 Jun: B-17 first flight signals US heavy-bomber doctrine. 

8. 1936 Oct: RAF Fighter Command created for air defence. 

9. 1936 Nov: RAF Bomber Command formed to prosecute strategic attack. 

10. 1938 Sep: Chain Home radar achieves operational readiness. 

11. 1930-41: Japanese Naval Development of Group Carrier Operations.

12. 1934-40: Development of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero and Its Effectiveness as a Carrier Aircraft