Condition Greenlight: How World War II Airborne Operations Influence Joint Forcible Entry Operations Today.

摘要

In World War II, the Allies integrated a new form of warfare, airborne operations, into its force projection capacity. The Allies advanced their understanding and effectiveness of airborne operations from 1943 through 1945. The Allies captured lessons based on their experience and communicated essential principles for airborne operations to improve future employment. After executing an airborne assault, the commanders and operational planners asked how airborne operations can improve. The Allies highlighted operational factors necessary to gain the advantage over the enemy, leading to successful mission achievement. Are these operational factors applicable to the conduct of airborne operations today? How are airborne assault operations during World War II relevant to modern airborne assault Joint Forcible Entry operations? In answering these questions, this monograph first studies the background of airborne operations and pertinent terminology. Then, the study analyzes select case-studies of World War II airborne operations to determine what the responsible commanders deemed as important. Next, this monograph links the important lessons discovered by the Allies to current guidance governing airborne joint forcible entry operations. In the end, the monograph demonstrates four core principles for commanders and planners to apply to future airborne employment.