 The Air War Plans Division was tasked with developing a production requirements plan for President Franklin D. Roosevelt , who wanted it by 10 September 1941 . In just nine days in August 1941 , George , Olds , Fairchild , Walker , Kuter and Hansell drafted the AWPD @-@ 1 plan for a war against Germany . Reflecting their belief in bombardment as the principal form of aviation , the plan was based upon the number of bombers that they estimated would be required to knock out Germany 's key industries – electric power , transportation and petroleum . In order to neutralize anticipated opposition from the German Air Force , they planned for bombing aircraft factories and the sources of the light metals needed for aircraft production . These targets were collated along with the estimated tonnage of bombs required to destroy them . 
