Quote:
Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl
I did some research and it seems like General Quesada had the right idea, thanks for bringing him to my attention. However, his ideas did not win out. The US never really adopted CAS as a combat doctrine during the war. Unescorted daylight strategic bombing with massive losses were the rule at the time. Such results would suggest that something about the military system itself needed to be changed. Even then, it took almost 40 years for the US military to concede that the German military model was for CAS was superior by all but completely adopting it, along with virtually every other aspect of it. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark and it isn't the Germans.
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The only thing I would add is that the XVIII Fighter Command began releasing their Thunderbolts and Mustangs to fighter sweeps in mid-to-late 44, as the Luftwaffe began its terminal fade; such sweeps included low-level attacks on targets of opportunity. However, they began to see increases in pilot losses due to the ever-present threat of flak - down to guys on the ground shooting rifles into the strafing aircraft - as well as the inherent hazards of flying fighter aircraft at single-digit altitudes and high rates of speed; they slapped a moratorium on low-level antics in, iirc, March of 45, to last until the end of the war.