A Pattern for Joint Operations: World War II Close Air Support, North Africa
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| Air missions against hostile ground units in the field of battle are the most difficult to control, the most expensive, and the least effective. For these reasons, these missions are lowest on the order of priority for missions of the tactical air force. However, their successful execution is essential to the combined air-ground effort. The P-51 shown above is strafing an enemy artillery position. In the Sicilian campaign, the A-36 fighter-bomber (the P-51 equipped with dive brakes and wing bomb racks) specialized in attacking such small but worthwhile targets as truck convoys, trains, tanks, and artillery. |
