Air power first showed its long-imagined potential in World War One with Zeppelin raids, reconnaissance flights, and small-scale attempts at aerial bombing. Knightly airborne duels between flying aces helped distract attention from the horrific realities of the Western front and from the institutional stupidity of officers and political leaders everywhere.

The interwar years (1919–1939) saw the rapid growth of aerial fanaticism and planning. Many assumed "the bomber will always get through" (attributed to Stanley Baldwin). According to Italian Gen. Giulio Douhet, that was for the best, since bombing would shorten future wars when brutally battered civilians forced their governments to sue for peace. Professional military men wished to avoid another static Western Front and hoped air power could restore decisive combat.