The life and wars of general curtis lemay gives an unprecedented glimpse into the might and mind of one of the founding fathers of air power. Curtis lemay strategist and tactician regnery publishing. General groves and general lemay chat about hiroshima. Air force general who readied the american strategic air command to carry out nuclear attacks at a moments notice. Curtis lemay by warren kozak, 9781621572992, available at book depository.
The life and times of general curtis lemay by warren kozak, regnery, 2009. The president isnt the only hothead who could start a. Air force officer whose expertise in strategic bombardment techniques was important during world war ii and afterward. Lemay 19061990 won t convert those utterly convinced that he was a bombhappy maniac. I hope i am starting this in the right section of the forum. Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth united states secretary of defense, serving from 1961 to 1968 under presidents john f. Curtis lemay was one of the greatest generals in the united states air force. Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. Air force general who became famous for leading a bombing campaign in the pacific during world war ii. Lemay at an airshow and asked him if a popular story about him was true. General curtis lemay and the countdown to nuclear annihilation is one of the most revealing works about the atom bomb. Curtis lemay historical records and family trees myheritage. Lemay, the former air force chief of staff who was an architect of strategic air power and insisted that the nation be willing to use nuclear weapons when necessary, died yesterday. Destruction from the air the army air forces confidential picture h by jr.
Remember, it was general lemay who told senator and presidential candidate barry goldwater, to stop asking him about the socalled blue room and its alien bodies at wrightpatterson air force base because lemay was not going to discuss the matter with him. He was also credited with reorganizing the strategic air command sac into an effective force that became capable of waging a nuclear war against the soviet union if. All of these have one man in commongeneral curtis lemay, who remains as. Curtis emerson lemay november 15, 1906 october 1, 1990 was a general in the united. Army air forces, yet few played a greater role in turning that armada into a warwinning weapon than curtis e. Lemay and mackinlay kantor is the personal and outspoken story of a history making general curtis e. The life and wars of general curtis lemay fearless, innovative, shrewd, abrasive, lemay is the father of modern air power and the man robert mcnamara has called, the finest combat commander the us has ever produced. Nov 02, 2009 the life and wars of general curtis lemay, part v. Lemay was stationed in the european theatre early in the war, where he became famous for his intense, relentless leadership style. Warren kozak traces the trajectory of americas most infamous general, from his firebombing of tokyo, guardianship of the u. In 1945, the air force sent a thirtyeightyearold major general named curtis lemay to the pacific to direct its ineffectual air war against japan, where the. He was promoted to major general for his successes at pea ridge. Curtis lemay was a us air force general who was credited during world war ii with developing the strategic bombing campaign against the japanese that greatly helped in the conclusion of the war.
The life and wars of general curtis lemay by warren kozak posted on july 9, 2009 by jeff grim 1 comment after reading about general george s. Curtis lemay was born in ohio, the son of a drifter, and was an rotc graduate who managed to secure a regular commission and rise rapidly in the air service. Army air forces aerial minelaying in world war ii japans outer and inner zones, aaf plan and reality, operation starvation blockade, navy subs, curtis lemay. This biography outlines his childhood, early life, career, major work, awards, personal life, legacy, timeline and trivia. The life and wars of general curtis lemay gives an unprecedented glimpse into the might and mind of one of the founding fathers of air power, whose influence, and controversy, continues to this day. All of these have one man in common general curtis lemay, who remains as unknowable and controversial as. Mission with lemay by general curtis lemay and mckinley kantor lemay s autobiography, with candid comments on leadership, icbms and much more. He attended columbus public schools and ohio state university. Speaking of war, tonight, hunkered down as i usually am in this very late stage of lifei didnt need to be directed to hide out on this leather couch im sitting on at the momenti read a biography of an american world war iiera air force general by the name of curtis lemay lemay.
The more openminded, however, will find in it a broader perspective on this controversial officer than we have had elsewhere. Building his first rocket at the age of 11, david soon had progressed to the point that he was drawing attention to his exploits by people such as general. Lemay is known for designing and implementing the systematic strategic bombing campaign in the pacific theater during world war ii. Curtis lemay facts, bio, family, life, info sticky facts. Lemay 19061990 was one of the out standing combat leaders of world war ii who helped lead the strategic bombing of japan and germany, built the strategic air command, and was air force chief of staff from 1961 to 1965. Does anyone here have any thoughts on a good book about gen. In his book, americas fall from space, david adair tells the story of the u. The first of my 4 great books about and by the great general curtis emerson lemay. The life and wars of general curtis lemay hardcover. The life and wars of general curtis lemay, kozak takes a new look at the controversial, total war general and comes up with some surprising findings.
In air campaigns against japan during world war ii, lemay abandoned the established policy of daylight, precision bombing. The life and wars of general curtis lemay tells the whole story of the innovative pilot and navigator. Curtis lemay november 15, 1906noctober 1, 1990 was a u. I recommend this new book to anyone who is interested in the second world war or the development of american air power. The life and wars of general curtis lemay by warren kozak. Curtis lemay 19061990 was a united states air force general. At this point the seminal sources remain his 1965 memoir and the authorized biography of 1987. When he took over as its commander in 1948, it consisted of little more than a few understaffed and untrained b29 groups left over from world war ii. The life and wars of gen curtis lemay was a pretty good read. Barrett tillman, author of the bestselling warriors, provides a solid if encapsulated look at a complex man in this new selection from the great generals series gen. Curtis emerson lemay november 15, 1906 october 1, 1990 was a general in the united states air force and the vice presidential running mate of american independent party presidential candidate george wallace in 1968. Packed with breathtaking air battles and ground tactics, this new addition to the great generals series features the controversial command and strategies of the former air force chief of staff. A biography great generals and millions of other books are available for instant access.
General curtis lemay while his official biography indicated that he was in michigan on vacation other information indicates that he may have been in canada when kennedy was killed. He stands with family and officials, including edith rogers and general curtis lemay and the family 16624057632. He was hawkish anticommunist and an outspoken advocate of manned air power based on a willingness to use nuclear weapons. Lemay is credited with designing and implementing an effective, but also controversial, systematic strategic bombing campaign in the pacific theater of world war ii. The life and wars of general curtis lemay by jamie glazov. Historical records and family trees related to curtis lemay.
Curtis emerson lemay november 15, 1906 october 1, 1990 was a general in the united states air force. General curtis emerson lemay is the fifth chief of staff of the u. Meanwhile, the definitive lemay biography is as yet unwritten. At least one witness states that lemay even attended jfks autopsy. Lemay papers 4 other papers that document lemays career in the army and air force and his 1968 campaign for vice president on the american independent party ticket. Lemay and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. But for anyone interested in what lay beneath the general s bluff, gruff exterior rather than concentrating on the machines and institutions he wielded so effectively, kozaks. Curtis emerson lemay november 15, 1906 october 1, 1990 was a general in the united states air force and the vice presidential running mate of american independent party candidate george wallace in the 1968 presidential election. Curtis emerson lemay was american 4star general, father of the strategic air command, who built it into a global strike force. This book is a quick and dirty overview of the life and career of curtis e. Curtis emerson lemay was born on 15 november 1906 in columbus, ohio. He became a partner in an automotive business just out of high school, and began his spanaway garbage collection company, which would become harold lemay enterprises, just after world war ii.
Lemay the life and wars of general curtis lemay find kindle lemay the life and wars of general curtis lemay read pdf lemay the life and wars of general curtis lemay authored by warren kozak released at filesize. General curtis emerson lemay was the father of the strategic air command. Throughout the war, curtis lemay provided methodical and strategic bombings in some cities in. He served as chief of staff of the united states air force from 1961 to 1965 lemay joined the united states army air corps. Also air force records indicate that he returned to washington on the evening on november 22. When lemnitzer formally proposed a firststrike nuclear attack on russia in 1961, a pet idea of air force chief curtis lemay, jfk humbled chairman lyman by walking out of the meeting in disgust. Curtis lemay was a terrifying, complex, and brilliant general.
Lemay is perhaps the most polarizing figure in the u. He was responsible for tens of thousands of civilian deaths, a fact he liked to celebrate by smoking cuban cigars. He was also credited with reorganizing the strategic air command into an effective force that became capable of waging a nuclear war against the soviet union if that option became necessary. In world war ii, he ordered the firebombing of tokyo and was in charge when atomic bombs were dropped on japan. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. It included history of his youth and study at the ohio state university, and his drive to fly planes and use them in new ways to help conquer the germans and the japanese. A fter pea ridge, curtis continued the campaign, eventually capturing helena, arkansas on july 12th, 1862. Curtis lemay s life and career epitomize the growth and development of u. An unusually engaging and thoroughly wellwritten biography of the man and his life. Curtis lemay began the war as an army lieutenant and ended it as a lieutenant general. Jan 15, 2015 within two years, the procedures, checklists, and training implemented by general lemay gave sac one of the best safety records in u. Army air corps in 1928, lemay advanced to the position of bombardment group commander by 1942. Obenauf with his trophy for the koren kolligian jr. He was born in columbus, ohio, on november 15, 1906.
The life and wars of general curtis lemay by warren. Curtis lemay, the youngest and longestserving general in modern american history, rose from obscurity, lacking social graces, oldboy connections, or lineage, to become americas most innovative andto this daycontroversial military commander. Looking on the internet i see several biographies and the general s autobiography. Lemay 19061990 wont convert those utterly convinced that he was a bombhappy maniac. He went from sleeping under biplane wings at the dawn of the army air core to defying orders for his squadron in ww2, shipping them to the eastern front and being the main decision maker behind the japanese bombings.
General curtis lemay was a belligerent cold warrior who was portrayed in the satirical film dr. General halleck gave curtis command of the army of the southwest on christmas day, 1861. I initially purchased the book because i was interested in the story of how a. Arnold, and other air force books, has written a comprehensive volume with the. Iron eagle the turbulent life of general curtis lemay. He took calculated risks that many times would have ended. Air force radar specialist sam korth met retired general curtis e. Curtis lemay, the air force general and father of the modern strategic air commandwho turned it into an effective instrument of nuclear warwas thought by many to have a paranoid style. Dec 14, 2011 general groves and general lemay chat about hiroshima by alex wellerstein, published december 14th, 2011 yesterday i had the honor of having a generously long meeting with hans kristensen, steven aftergood, and stan norris, all at the federation of american scientists. Lemay studied civil engineering at ohio state university, where he also joined the rotc, hoping to eventually enter the army air service. Based on formerly classified documents, military records, press accounts, interviews and more than 10 years of research, 15 minutes. As many students of military history will tell you, curtis e.
If ever you could call a biography a pageturner, this is it. Curtis lemay was a us air force general credited with developing the strategic bombing campaign against the japanese in world war ii that greatly helped in bringing the war to n end. The lemay authors and of mackinlay this book, kantor, gen. The life and wars of general curtis lemay tells the whole story of the. I have previously read books on the 8th air force and the b29 missions. He was an advocate of total war carried out via air attack, and he was responsible for launching the firebomb raids over tokyo that killed 100,000 civilians. Born on november 15, 1906, curtis lemay was a united states air force general who actively participated in the world war ii providing strategic air bombing. After the war, he served as the leader of the strategic air command, the u. Curtis lemay biography childhood, life achievements.
Curtis lemay doesnt enjoy the fame fellow world war ii hero gen. Lemay worked his way through ohio state university. The price of failure might be paid with national survival. I decided to read a biography of lemay to gain a better understanding of the man and of the what he dealt with as a commander in europe and in the pacific. Apr, 2017 the president isnt the only hothead who could start a nuclear war. Nuclear arsenal in the cold war, frustrated career in government and short lived political run. He played a major role in escalating the united states involvement in the vietnam war. All the books in this series are on the short side and serve more as brief introductions to their subjects than authoritative accounts. Curtis emerson lemay 19061990 was one of the outstanding combat leaders of world war ii who helped lead the strategic bombing of japan and germany, built the strategic air command, and was air force chief of staff from 1961 to 1965. Another good lemay bio is iron eagle, and there are several more in our library. Curtis lemay was also a key strategist in the development of ideas and equipment used in the war. General curtis lemay father of the strategic air command.
Patton, i wanted to read about another famous general from world war ii and the cold war general curtis lemay. For fifty years, lemnitzer has escaped the suspicions of jfk assassination researchers simply because he was transferred to europe in november 1962, a. Hes the first fourstar general in gsc history to take on the role and that. Curtis lemay was the most controversial advocate of air power in world war ii, but his imprint on the fledgling u. The biography is rather thin and it hits only the highlights of the general s life. General curtis lemay was a firebrand of the first order and one of the reasons the u. This period of cold war danger and madness has been well documented by l. All of these have one man in common general curtis lemay, who remains as enigmatic and controversial as he was in life. Lemay clearly reveals in his biography why he was typical of the. Warren kozak is an author, essayist and public speaker, whose views on world events offer fresh insights and challenge accepted beliefs. His outstanding competence as leader and organizer of strategic airpower in world war ii and during the cold war is. His flaws are famous, but this fine, candid book also shows how much we owe him.