Alexander P. de Seversky's predictions from 1942

[Avimimus]

Attached is a short excerpt from the 1942 book Victory Through Air Power by Alexander P. de Seversky.

In this excerpt Seversky speculates about what is possible for aviation (and strategic aviation) in the future. It combines an interesting mix of distinctly pre-war concepts about aircombat with daring arguments about the need for future long range strategic aviation.

Giant aerial cruisers fighting interceptors with recoilless rifles - think Grokhovskiy G-52 being attacked by Russian 1930s fighters with recoilless rifles:
See: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,7951.45.html
And: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,5677.msg46004.html#msg46004

While his strategic vision was partly fulfilled by aircraft like the B-52, the CL-1201 invasion plan seems to be a more realistic representation of such a concept as envisioned in the 1970s:
See: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,387.0.html

So all in all, an interesting read I thought I'd share.

 

[Avimimus]

Part II:

 

[Avimimus]

Some more information and discussion about the concept aircraft depicted can be found in this thread: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4830.0.html