Bombing for Effect

Both joint and Air Force doctrine are clear on the intent of the US to use effects-based targeting in military conflicts for the foreseeable future. The Air Force embraced this concept as early as World War II, but has met with mixed results. This thesis answers the question of how the Air Force can improve its effects-based air campaigns. The author analyzes existing doctrine for the official guidance on effects-based operations. The current guidance is followed with the effects-based ideas expressed by prominent airpower theorists throughout history. Four case studies are then analyzed based on these ideas to indicate how the Air Force has performed in recent history. This thesis concludes that the Air Force can improve its effects-based air campaigns by improving the planning process as well as educating civilian and military leadership on the effects-based concept. Planners must understand the objectives at all levels of war, and these objectives must be clear, measurable, and achievable. Education of civilian and military leaders is crucial for the development of clearly defined objectives and successful execution of a plan designed to achieve specific effects, not just the destruction of individual targets.