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.