Historical Lessons for Operations in the Pacific

TOPIC SPONSOR: AMC/CC

For example, how does General George Kenney’s approach in the South Pacific compare to what will be required in a future conflict with China?

• Belcher, Maj. Drew, "From Star of the Show to Supporting Cast: How to Prepare Special Operations Airpower for Great Power Competition," ACSC AO 2025.
  • Answered by Belcher's comparison of a potential future conflict against China to the air campaign led by Lieutenant General George C. Kenney in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. Belcher notes that Kenney, drawing on his experiences from World War I, prioritized gaining control of the air as a fundamental prerequisite before commanders could execute any subsequent ground, sea, or air operations. He explains that this lesson is highly relevant today because the vast geography and advanced threat networks in the Pacific make air superiority a critical enabler for any airpower contributions. Furthermore, he warns that Special Operations Forces (SOF) air assets are particularly vulnerable in contested spaces due to their lack of defensive air-to-air capabilities, making the realization of Kenney's historical air superiority model the top priority for conventional forces before special operations can be successfully employed.
• Benson, Maj, Jonathan, et al "Force Presentation for Multi-Domain Operations in the Indo-Pacific Region," ACSC Group Research Project, 2022, 17 pgs.
   
• Brown, Lt. Col. Edward, "'The Case for Taiwan': Lessons Learned from the Cuban Missile Crisis," SAASS Thesis, 2022, 120 pgs. 
   
• Eno, Maj. Brian, "Unintended Strategy: Sequential Designs and Cumulative Outcomes in the Pacific War," SAASS thesis, 2020, 153 pgs.
   
• Francis, Maj. E. Taylor, "A House Built on Sand: Air Supremacy in US Air Force History, Theory and Doctrine," ACSC paper, subsequently published as an AU Press LeMay Paper, 2020, 47 pgs.  
• Hedberg, Maj. Anders, "The Chindits: A Lesson in Combined Operations." ACSC elective paper (The British Imperial Experience), 2019, 16 pgs. 
   

• Honda, Col. Hirokazu (Japan Air Self-Defense Force), "How Japan Defended Taiwan: Operation Sho-2Go in the Pacific War and What that Means for Taiwan," AWC Strategic Studies Paper (Taiwan Deterrence RTF), 2025, 33 pgs. 

• Huerta, Maj. Ahunuar, "Rail Logistics in the Korean War," ACSC elective paper, (Logistics), 2023, 13 pgs. 

• Kulikowski, Maj. John, "Airpower's Greatest Change--Speed of Airfield Construction: How Aviation Engineers and Their Airfields Changed Airpower's Reach to Enable Decisive Victory across World War II's Theaters," ACSC course paper, 2025, 11 pgs.  

• Losacker, Maj. Brandon T., "Combat Search and Rescue: Restoring Promise to a Sacred Assurance," ACSC paper, 2017.

  • ​subsequently published as an AU Press Wright Flyer, "Combat Search and Rescue: Restoring Promise to a Sacred Assurance," (2018)

• Lowe, Matthew S., "Behind Enemy Minds: The U.S. Army's Psychological Edge in the World War II Pacific," SAASS thesis, 2025, 100 pgs. 
• Lyells, Christopher D., "'Buying Alignment': A Case Study of Inducement Efficacy in US-Philippine Relations from 1933-2017," SAASS thesis, 2021, 82 pgs. 
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• McKittrick, Lt. Col. Kevin, "'A Long and Costly Fight': How Historical Insight from Operation Causeway Can Still Deter Aggression Today," AWC Strategic Studies Paper (Taiwan Deterrence RTF), 2024, 17 pgs. Winner of the Lt. Gen. "Pete" Quesada US Army Writing Award
  • ​Discussed as "Operation Causeway in WWII and What that Means for Xi," on the podcast ChinaTalk, June 6, 2024.
• McSorley, Lt. Col. Matthew, "Impact of Fore Design on Marine Corps Assault Support in the Age of Great Power Competition," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2021, 26 pgs
• Monaco, Lt. Col. Jason, "Where Art Thou, Pete and Opie?  World War II Tactical Airpower Lessons for a New Era," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2021, 38 pgs.
• Poole, Maj. John D., "Jungle Skippers: The 317th Troop Carrier Group in the Southwest Pacific and their Legacy,"  SAASS thesis, 2014, 125 pgs. 
  • ​Subsequently published as an AU Press Drew Paper, "Jungle Skippers: The 317th Troop Carrier Group in the Southwest Pacific and their Legacy," (2016)
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• Valichka, Maj. Brian, "A Fateful Commitment: The Sacrifice of the 17th Pursuit Squadron in the Defense of the Philippines," SAASS thesis, 2025, 81 pgs. 
• West, Maj. Andrew, "Air Guerilla Strategy: The 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and Interdiction in Burma, 1942-1945," SAASS thesis, 2023, 117 pgs.