Operation Matterhorn

AIR WAR COLLEGE

AIR UNIVERSITY

OPERATION MATTERHORN:

"Early Sustained Bombing of Japan"

POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY TO OPERATIONAL FAILURE

by

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 student's 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.

______________________________

Disclaimer

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 V

TABLES VI

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS VII

ABSTRACT VIII

INTRODUCTION 1

CONFLICT AND CAMPAIGN BACKGROUND 3

The China-United States Connection 4

Superfortress Equals Very Long Range 5

Birth of a Plan: Setting Sun to Matterhorn 7

Arnold's Independent Air Force 9

20th Bomber Command before 20th Air Force 11

STRATEGY ANALYSIS 12

Specific National Interests and Policy Objectives 12

Molding Military Strategy to Meet National Political Objectives 13

Limits of Military Power 14

Alternative Strategies 15

Home Front Support 15

Strategic Differences between Past and Present 16

AIR CAMPAIGN EXECUTION 18

Matterhorn's Centerpiece 18

Deployment: From Kansas to India 18

Logistics: "The Pole in the Tent" 19

Combat Operations in the Superfortress 20

SUMMARY AND DOCTRINAL IMPLICATIONS 25

Operational Summary 25

Political Summary 25

Doctrinal Implications 26

Bottom Line 26

APPENDIX A 28

Maps 28

APPENDIX B 35

Boeing B-29 Superfortress 35

APPENDIX C 36

WW II B-29 Production Rates 36

APPENDIX D 37

Twentieth Bomber Command Actions 1944-1945 37

APPENDIX E 41

Operation MATTERHORN Timeline 41

GLOSSARY 42

BIBLIOGRAPHY 43

Illustrations

Page

Figure 1 WW II CBI-Pacific Theater 28

Figure 2 Proposed 20th AF Command Structure 29

Figure 3 Operation MATTERHORN 30

Figure 4 B-29 Operations - Mariana Islands 31

Figure 5 MATTERHORN: 5 Jun 44 32

Figure 6 MATTERHORN: 14 Jun 44 33

Figure 7 MATTERHORN: 9 Jul 44 34

Figure 8 Boeing B-29 Superfortress 35

Tables

Page

Table 1 WW II B-29 Production Rates 36

Table 2 20th BC Combat Actions, Jun-Oct 44 37

Table 3 20th BC Combat Actions, Nov-Dec 44 38

Table 4 20 BC Combat Actions, Jan-Feb 45 39

Table 5 20 BC Combat Actions, Feb-Mar 45 40

Table 6 Operation MATTERHORN 1943-1945 41

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 Department's 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

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