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Mission Man (Part 2)
Bob Weinstein is a journalist who covers technology, project management, the workplace and career development.
Curtis LeMay’s sound, level-headed judgment impressed his bosses. He was far more than a superb pilot and navigator; he was also a responsible leader who was looking out for his men.
Meanwhile, war with Germany was imminent. Realizing that America’s air power was woefully inadequate, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to authorize $300 million for the Air Corps’ expansion. But along with more and better planes, there also had to be training bases, support equipment and R&D efforts to create new weaponry, along with security procedures to counter espionage and terrorist threats this country had never before had to deal with.
Between January 6, 1940 and March 21, 1941, LeMay was promoted from captain to major of the Seventh Bombardment Squadron. At the time, Henry (Hap) Arnold was chief of the Army Air Forces. An astute leader and respected strategist, Arnold insisted we build bigger and better bombers capable of flying long distances and carrying bigger payloads. He also spotted LeMay as a first-rate commander and was instrumental in giving him more responsibilities and rapid promotions.
In January 1942, LeMay was promoted to lieutenant colonel and given his first real command, the 305th bomber group, which consisted of three B-17s. By October 1942, he was in charge of the Ninth Bomber Command, which consisted of …
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"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." - Decca Recording Company, rejecting the Beatles, 1961 |