Accession Number:

ADA279588

Title:

Operational Leadership in Air Warfare: A Study of the Battle of Britain and Operation Desert Storm

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

NAVAL WAR COLL NEWPORT RI DEPT OF OPERATIONS

Personal Author(s):

• Neubauer, Kenneth P.

Report Date:

1994-02-08

Pagination or Media Count:

42.0

Abstract:

The essence of operational leader ship is its function as the bridge between the strategic, the operational and the tactical levels of war. In accomplishing this, the most critical aspects a leader must concern himself with are the preparation of the command, and communicating effectively with superiors and subordinates alike. This paper will look at two case studies, the Battle of Britain and the air campaign of operation Desert Storm, and will discuss the strengths and weaknesses in operational leadership as exhibited by the victorious leaders, Air Chief Marshall Hugh Dowding and General Charles A. Horner. As their triumphs and failures will show, the proper exercise of operational leadership is not necessarily validated by victory alone.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY OPERATIONS
• *LEADERSHIP
• *MILITARY COMMANDERS
• *AERIAL WARFARE
• MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES)
• TACTICAL WARFARE
• STRATEGIC WARFARE
• MILITARY FORCES(FOREIGN)
• CASE STUDIES

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management
• Personnel Management and Labor Relations
• Military Forces and Organizations
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE