| e past century, the face of warfare has changed | | | | Airplanes, particularly large carrier craft, provide much |
| dramatically. Whereas the wars of yesteryear were | | | | needed supplies such as food and water to troops. |
| fought on the ground, today’s wars are a | | | | Because of their immense size and capability, |
| showdown in the skies. The power, effectiveness, | | | | airplanes can also deliver tanks, trucks, and hundreds |
| and might of modern military is exhibited in the | | | | of troops. The Air Force also utilizes helicopters, |
| power of their air force. | | | | which can accomplish the same purpose. |
| What is the Air Force? | | | | Air Combat |
| In the United States, the Air Force is a branch of the | | | | The main use of the Air Force in time of war is their |
| armed services whose purpose it is to defend and | | | | ability in combat. Today’s aircraft are |
| protect the United States and her allies by means of | | | | incredibly agile and maneuverable. They are used to |
| air combat. Therefore, the core weaponry of the air | | | | shoot down enemy airplanes, and to attack enemy |
| force consists of airplanes and the personnel | | | | reconnaissance or supply planes. A military |
| attendant to their operation. Of course, the Air Force | | | | demonstrates its upper hand in a battle when its air |
| is not the only branch of the military that possesses | | | | force is the first to strike and disable the |
| or uses aircraft. The component that differentiates | | | | enemy’s air power. |
| the Air Force from other military branches is that its | | | | Ground Offensive |
| main offensive tool is the aircraft. | | | | In time of war, much fighting takes place on the |
| What Does the Air Force Do? | | | | ground. After all that is where most of the troops |
| Air planes are the fastest way to travel, and | | | | are, and that is where much of the battles takes |
| because of their speed and power, they are deadly | | | | place. The Air Force can drop bombs on enemy |
| in warfare. The Air Force utilizes and maximizes the | | | | territory—obliterating immense amounts of |
| power of airplanes for several reasons. | | | | property and human life. Jets are also equipped with |
| Reconnaissance | | | | missiles, which accomplish the same objective with |
| Because of their aerial perspective, airplanes are | | | | greater force and precision. Many jets and helicopters |
| invaluable for gaining information about enemy | | | | are also armed with automatic guns, enabling |
| locations, the size of their army, the status of their | | | | firepower to be unleashed from a high-speed aerial |
| preparation, and the lay of the land. Airplanes used | | | | location. |
| for this purpose are the Stealth Fighter and other | | | | What is the Power of the Air Force in a Time of |
| high-altitude airplanes. | | | | War? |
| Supply | | | | |