For many in Army leadership positions, the Army aviation experience in WWI pointed to a clear need for airpower as an independent, decisive combat arm. During the interwar years, conflicts arose about how best to use aviation in a joint air-ground campaign. Vocal proponents like Billy Mitchell and others worked to define strategic vs tactical air operations.

Billy Mitchell showed the value of air power by conducting bombing demonstrations on old Battleships.

The modern battlefield would now demand the ability for airpower to strike near and deep to help neutralize the enemy's ability to wage war; all the while supporting the main effort of the ground commander. These conflicts about Army Aviation rolls, missions, sustainment, and how best to employ the force in combat were more about evolution than revolution as the march of technology drove the production of ever more capable machines, and much more became known about human factors limitations. The need to blend man and machine became clear to maximize combat effectiveness and reduce accidents as a critical component of force protection. It was during this time that the practice of the specialty of aviation medicine was born.

F. Trubee Davison served as the first Assistant Secretary of War for Air.

By 1926 the Army’s aviation force took on the name of the Army Air Corps, and a new leadership position; that of Assistant Secretary of War for Air, was created.  During the 1930s more experiments were conducted to show how effective air power could be.  

Many observation aircraft, such as the Douglas O-2H, were designed and built during the interwar years.  These aircraft were used by both ground and air forces for reconnaissance.

But questions remained about how closely air units should work with ground forces, in particular, aerial support was needed for army artillery sighting and adjustment. In June of 1941, the Air Corps became the Army Air Force, which was now independent from the ground forces, with its own command structure.   A move that happened just in time for World War Two.

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