Unlike the relative uniformity of conventional warfare, the
peculiarities of small wars prevent a clear definition of rules and
roles for military forces to follow. During the small wars era, aviation
was still in its infancy, and the US military had only recently begun
battling in the skies. The US Marine Corps recognized that flexibility
and ingenuity would be critical to the successful conduct of small wars
and thus employed the new technology of aviation.
In Biplanes at War: US Marine Corps Aviation in the Small Wars Era,
1915--1934, author Wray R. Johnson provides a riveting history of the
marines' use of aviation between the world wars, a time in which young
soldiers were volunteering to fly in combat when flying itself was a
dangerous feat. Starting with Haiti in 1915, Biplanes at War follows
the marines' aviation experiences in Haiti, the Dominican Republic,
China, and Nicaragua, chronicling how marines used aircraft to provide
supporting fires (e.g., dive-bombing) to ground troops in close contact
with irregular opponents, evacuate the sick and wounded, transport
people and cargo (e.g., to assist humanitarian operations), and even
support elections in furtherance of democracy.
After years of expanding the capabilities of airplanes far beyond what
was deemed possible, the small wars era ended, and the US Marines Corps
transitioned into an amphibious assault force. The legacy of the
marines' ability to adapt and innovate during the small wars era endures
and provides a useful case study. Biplanes at War sheds light on how
the marines pioneered roles and missions that have become commonplace
for air forces today, an accomplishment that has largely gone
unrecognized in mainstream histories of aviation and air power.
