Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Churchill on airpower: Sure, it may look fast, but it’s the least mobile form of force

“Strange as it may seem, the Air Force, except in the air, is the least mobile of all the services. A squadron can reach its destination in a few hours but its establishment, depots, fuel, spare parts and workshops take many weeks, and even months, to develop.”

080311-f-3927P-004
080311-f-3927P-004

 

 

“Strange as it may seem, the Air Force, except in the air, is the least mobile of all the services. A squadron can reach its destination in a few hours but its establishment, depots, fuel, spare parts and workshops take many weeks, and even months, to develop.” — Winston Churchill, Their Finest Hour

I wonder if this is still accurate as it was when he wrote it. Now we have very mobile airpower — B-2s able to fly strikes against Serbia from bases in Missouri, and drones that can loiter for days.

Air Force Historical Research Agency 

 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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