Then, in the battle of Normandy, the Allied powers, using hundreds of seacraft of all types, invaded the Continent of Europe. The sea was used to its fullest. It is significant, however, that part of the invading forces were transported by AIR.
It was significant because that battle saw sea power at its peak. AIR power was just beginning. And this is the critical point that we have arrived at, and this is the competition we are in. This media that envelops us we must use. We must imagine, design, and develop the means and methods of using it.
We must--if our people and our institutions are to survive. For the people with their institutions who best learn how to use this media will survive in this highly competitive world. AIR power is now the decisive element in modern war. And by AIR power is meant every contribution to waging war that man has created and that can be flown.
Men , weapons, ammunition , food , bombs, missiles , and all that it will take to fight a future war must FLY. Clearly, therefore, in the development of our AIR power and Airborne potential changes must be made in our ground force equipment as well as in our Air Force equipment. The conventional type steel and cast iron earth-bound tank cannot in its present form win the battle with air-transported shaped-charge weapons. In its present form it is as exctinct as the elephants of Zama and the heavily armed knights of Agincourt.
The entire Airborne-armored problem must be viewed in the light of the capabilities of modern shaped-charge [ RPGs ] and rocket weapons.
