Page 262 - 1992 - XVIII Congresso Internazionale di Storia Militare

228 IIJOIMD A VON DO!NHOFF

War, fìghring had degenerared inro a war ofacrricion by late 1917, and the infu-
sion of American freshness and enchusiasm helped cip che balance in the Allies'
favor. After che raids againsr Pola by the Porro Corsini force in !are Augusr, 1918,
che Ausrrian naval forces did noc venrure our of porr and ceased ro be a chreat
in che Adriatic and Medirerranean. This was accomplished chrough American spirit
and lralian rechnology.
lt is diffìculr ro assess che long·rerm accomplishmenrs of American Naval avi-
ation during World War l. Firsr, che effort had noc reached marurity when rhe
war ended; consequendy, che fuU porencial of naval aviacion was never achieved.
Secood, appropriaòons for naval and milirary forces atter the war receded and Ameri-
ca emered an era of isolation. Perhaps che single mosc shining accomplishmenr was
the high degree of cooperacion achieved by a hosr of councries in che development
of a new cechoology. In this, ltaly and the Onired Scares shared an imporrane chap-
rer of hisrory.
Prior co irs encry inco the Firsr World War, the United Scares Navy had paid
scant attention co che new rechnology of aviation. The Navy purchased ics fìrst air·
craft in 191 L a od conducred various experimeors with ics use duting the following
five years, bue ic refused ro make a commicrnenc co ics valuc or util.ization unti!
after hosdlities broke ouc in 1917.
The warring powers in Europe, in the meancirne, had successfully incegrared
aie power imo rheir sera regi es and ractics, a od rechnological burdles were overcome
in the hear of barde. Nor only were aircrafc urilized on bartlefìelds as scoucs and
anri-persoood weapons, but chey were being used ac sea co counrer che U-boat menace
aloog aUied coasrs. By the cime America eocered che war, air power was being used
ro concrol batdefìeld and sea sicuacions.
Amc:rica's enrry inco the war fed the aUies with much oeeded manpower and
a fresh spirit. The U.S. Navy e-xercised proper judgmem in aUocaring officers and
men ro join che air ~-ar already in progress. ln one case srudy, ic ca n be observed
chat America n personoel augmenred an exbausred Icalian oaval air force, utilizing
lcalian aircraft, cerritory, and suppon services, and hdped swing che balance in
the Adriacic rheater. Allied cooperation such as dris was cried aod cesced during
che Firsc World War, and carried ouc co irs logicaJ conclusion during the Second
World War and in the recendy concluded Cold War.