This monograph discusses the question of whether or not the USAF should consider using heavy bombers in the Close Air Support (CAS) mission. To answer this question, the monograph develops a bomber CAS concept of operations. The validity of this concept has particular relevance in light of the on-going downsizing of the Department of Defense and the acceptance of a "Win-Near Simultaneous Win" national military strategy. This paper presents current day CAS doctrine at both the tactical and theater level. Following this, a brief review of the British World War II CAS experiences in North Africa provides a historical perspective. From the doctrine and history, four evaluation criteria are selected which are used to analyze the proposed bomber CAS concept of operations. The monograph concludes that USAF planners should consider bomber CAS as a potential combat multiplier. Successful implementation of this concept depends on two key areas, the development of precision standoff weapons and their subsequent employment on the bombers. The study further concludes that battlefield control is the greatest impediment to successful implementation. Planners must, therefore, emphasize the effective integration of bomber CAS assets into a theater air support system, both doctrinally and procedurally.

ADA 288983 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)