USAF Special Air Warfare: Doctrines and Capabilities, 1963

This study continues through 1963 the account of Air Force special air warfare activities begun in AFCHO study USAF Counterinsurgency Doctrines and Capabilities--1961-1962. (The broader term--special air/warfare--replaced the term counterinsurgency in the Air Force late in 1963.) In the current study the author recounts the continuing Air Force-Army struggle over special warfare roles and missions; the OSD acceptance of an Air Force proposal to increase its special air warfare force; the Army's efforts to add organic aviation to its Special Forces; the relationship of STRICOM to the special warfare forces of the services; the buildup of special air warfare units in the unified commands; the growing importance of civic action and mobile training teams in underdeveloped nations; and progress in securing more modern aircraft. Although this study forms a part of a larger History of Headquarters USAF, it is being published separately to make it more readily available.