BOMBER HITS EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, SETTING IT AFIRE AT THE 79TH FLOOR; 13 DEAD, 26 HURT (7/29/45)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 7/29/45 | Frank Adams, Larry Resner, George Horne, James B. Reston, Richard O’Malley, George E. Jones, more

[colorado tanker]

They are the same, although I understand there is a movement in military academic circles to reformulate them and add some more.

My understanding is they derived from principles JFC Fuller wrote after WWI. There was widespread horror about what had happened and consensus that military thinking and tactics needed to change. The Principle of Maneuver is a direct repudiation of the frontal assault tactics that caused so much carnage in WWI. Fire and maneuver became the basic small unit tactic of the US Army. It was classically executed in the attack on Brecourt Manor by Easy Company, depicted in the Band of Brothers miniseries.

[Hebrews 11:6]

That's very helpful--thanks.

So, what do those ivory tower theorists want to change and add?

[EternalVigilance]

Because I’m not a military strategist or commander, and likely never will be, frankly, my interest in them, beyond the simple obtaining of knowledge, is to apply them in my political strategy and planning work.

So, to be honest, while I didn’t add, subtract or change anything, I did re-order them for my own clarification and personal use, as follows:

Objective:
Direct every military operation towards a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable objective.

Simplicity:
Prepare clear, uncomplicated plans and clear, concise orders to ensure thorough understanding.

Unity of command:
For every objective, ensure unity of effort under one responsible commander.

Mass:
Concentrate combat power at the decisive place and time.

Economy of force:
Allocate minimum essential combat power to secondary efforts.

Surprise:
Strike the enemy at a time, at a place, or in a manner for which he is unprepared.

Offensive:
Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative.

Maneuver:
Place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power.

Security:
Never permit the enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage.

[colorado tanker]

I believe this is the article that kicked off the discussion. The main idea is to bring into the Principles how to take advantage of the revolution in modern warfare, such as IT and surveillance technology. They also want to add speed, but Georgie Patton got that from the existing Principles!

http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/12-new-principles-of-warfare/

[PghBaldy]

Today is the 75th anniversary of the B-25 Empire State Building crash.

[PghBaldy]

At 9:40 a.m., the aircraft crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building,

[Covenantor]

side bar foot note of the event:

In a book, which title I can’t recall, about the crash mentioned an event that occurred on W34th street.

An immigrant cab driver, perhaps Puerto Rican, on hearing the huge crash jumped out of his cab and started shooting his pistol into the air shouting “Viva La Revolucion!”, believing it had already started without him.