Operation Matterhorn
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AIR WAR COLLEGE
AIR UNIVERSITY
OPERATION MATTERHORN:
“Early Sustained Bombing of Japan”
POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY TO OPERATIONAL FAILURE
XYZ, Lt Col, USAF
A Research Report Submitted to the Faculty
In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements
Edition 13, Strategy Analysis
Advisor: Lt Col XYZ
XYZ Air Force Base, XYZ
1 April 2004
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Certificate
I have read and understand the Academic Integrity Section of the Student Guide. I certify that I have not used another students research work and that the creative process of researching, organizing, and writing this research report represents only my own work. I have read the instructions regarding purpose, scope, format and content of this effort and have accomplished the research paper in accordance with guidance presented in Section 5 of the Student Guide, including the appropriate Writing Assignment Review Checklist, and with the authorized writing template posted on the Air War College Nonresident Studies homepage.
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The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government or the Department of Defense. In accordance with Air Force Instruction 51-303, it is not copyrighted, but is the property of the United States government.
Contents
Page
ILLUSTRATIONS
TABLES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABSTRACT
VIII
INTRODUCTION
CONFLICT AND CAMPAIGN BACKGROUND
The China-United States Connection
Superfortress Equals Very Long Range
Birth of a Plan: Setting Sun to Matterhorn
Arnolds Independent Air Force
20th Bomber Command before 20th Air Force
STRATEGY ANALYSIS
Specific National Interests and Policy Objectives
Molding Military Strategy to Meet National Political Objectives
Limits of Military Power
Alternative Strategies
Home Front Support
Strategic Differences between Past and Present
AIR CAMPAIGN EXECUTION
Matterhorns Centerpiece
Deployment: From Kansas to India
Logistics: “The Pole in the Tent”
Combat Operations in the Superfortress
SUMMARY AND DOCTRINAL IMPLICATIONS
Operational Summary
Political Summary
Doctrinal Implications
Bottom Line
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
APPENDIX C
WW II B-29 Production Rates
APPENDIX D
Twentieth Bomber Command Actions 1944-1945
APPENDIX E
Operation MATTERHORN Timeline
GLOSSARY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Illustrations
Page
Figure 1 WW II CBI-Pacific Theater
Figure 2 Proposed 20th AF Command Structure
Figure 3 Operation MATTERHORN
Figure 4 B-29 Operations – Mariana Islands
Figure 5 MATTERHORN: 5 Jun 44
Figure 6 MATTERHORN: 14 Jun 44
Figure 7 MATTERHORN: 9 Jul 44
Figure 8 Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Tables
Page
Table 1 WW II B-29 Production Rates
Table 2 20th BC Combat Actions, Jun-Oct 44
Table 3 20th BC Combat Actions, Nov-Dec 44
Table 4 20 BC Combat Actions, Jan-Feb 45
Table 5 20 BC Combat Actions, Feb-Mar 45
Table 6 Operation MATTERHORN 1943-1945
Acknowledgments
A special thanks and love to my beloved wife and sons for the numerous sacrifices they make daily as a military family.
Abstract
Immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted to routinely strike the Japan mainland with strategic bombers, just as Germany was being bombed by British and American bombers. The War Departments Air War Plans Division projected the sustained bombardment of the Japanese mainland would not occur until the capture of the Mariana Islands (mid to late 1945). In the interim, a plan was developed to launch US bombers