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Military
Signed photo of General Curtis E. LeMay, commander of the Bomb Division of the Eighth Air Force.
![Brigadier-General Curtis LeMay presents Lieutenant-Colonel Preston Piper of the 385th Bomb Group the Soldier's Medal for Gallantry. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication [ilegible] Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292903.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO THE HEROIC FLYERS OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE. So many American flyers of the Eighth Air Force here achieved many high distinctions that the presentation of medals and awards has become a](http://americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-380180.jpg?itok=j5I45MWZ)
Brigadier-General Curtis LeMay presents Lieutenant-Colonel Preston Piper of the 385th Bomb Group the Soldier's Medal for Gallantry. Image stamped on reverse; ‘Keystone Press.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication [ilegible] Nov 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘292903.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'PRESENTATION OF AWARDS TO THE HEROIC FLYERS OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE. So many American flyers of the Eighth Air Force here achieved many high distinctions that the presentation of medals and awards has become a "big business" in England. One of them is Lt Col Preston Piper, 27 year old Fortress pilot and Deputy Group Commander of Santa Ana, California. Col Piper, a filing station attendant and department store clark in civilian life, became a fighter pilot three years ago, and was transferred to Forts about a year and a half ago. Leader on numerous highly successful missions against the Nazi. Col Piper has already been presented the Air Medal and the Soldiers medal. US Pool/SG/Hel. Keystone. Photo shows: The award approved, Brig Gen Curtis LeMay, Columbus, Ohio, Heavy Bombardment Division Commander, comes to the station to make the presentation. Lt Col is presented with the Soldiers Medal for gallantry in saving the lives of the crewmen of his ship the "Lulu Belle".'
Memorial to General Curtis E. Le May.
Page 27 of the 385th Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.
Page 11 of the 385th Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.
Page 86 of the 95th Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). The 95th Bomb Group unit history was published by the Group’s Photographic Section. Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.
Page 83 of the 95th Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). The 95th Bomb Group unit history was published by the Group’s Photographic Section. Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.
Curtis LeMay memorial at the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum.
![Lieutenant Colonel Elliott Vandevanter of the 385th Bomb Group with Colonel Frederick W Castle of the 487th Bomb Group and Brigadier General Curtis A LeMay. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 13 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '92902.' [censor no] Printed caption on reverse: '](http://americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-456705.jpg?itok=4gJMaEER)
Lieutenant Colonel Elliott Vandevanter of the 385th Bomb Group with Colonel Frederick W Castle of the 487th Bomb Group and Brigadier General Curtis A LeMay. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 13 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '92902.' [censor no] Printed caption on reverse: '"BIG SHOTS" OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE. Photo shows: Lt Col Elliott Vandevanter Jr, Washington DC, youthful commander of a Flying Fortress group in England, col Frederick W Castle of Washing DC, and New York City, commander of another Fortress Group and Brig Gen Curtis A LeMay, Columbus, ohio, commander of a Bomb Divisionof the Eighth Air Force.' ( this photo has been uploaded in reverse...MPF)
![Brigadier General Curtis E Le May talks with Colonel Frank Castle and Lieutenant Colonel Vandevanters of the 385th Bomb Group at a conference at Great Ashfield. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Presss.' [stamp]. Handwritten caption on reverse: '10-11-43 Le May with pipe.'](http://americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-456607.jpg?itok=026k-jBA)
Brigadier General Curtis E Le May talks with Colonel Frank Castle and Lieutenant Colonel Vandevanters of the 385th Bomb Group at a conference at Great Ashfield. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Presss.' [stamp]. Handwritten caption on reverse: '10-11-43 Le May with pipe.'
306th Temporary Deputy Commander at Wendover, then transferred as Group Commander of 305th BG 4-Jun-42 to 15-May-43.
Commanding General of the 3rd Air Division 13 September 1943 to 20 June 1944. Post-war Commanding General SAC 16 October 1948 to 30 June 1957. 1961-1965 he was Air Force Chief of Staff. Retired 1 February 1965.
In 1928 Curtis LeMay joined the USAAC as a flying cadet. He was commissioned in 1929-30 as 2nd Lieutenant. In 1937 he was transferred to bombers. As Lt Colonel he led 305th Bombardment Group to England in 1942 as part of the 8th Air Force. He was well known for his development of defensive formations, such as the combat box, which was used to minimise aircraft losses in combat. These formations were used by B-17 bombers during missions over occupied Europe.
The following memories were recorded by the Daily Telegraph supplement, The Yanks, about his time in England…
“The brave boys based at Chelveston had more than their fair share of triumphs and tragedies during their 18 month stay in rural Northamptonshire.
After flying several missions from Grafton Underwood, the first job facing the 305th Bomber Group (Heavy) was to perfect the best bombing height and formation to keep down losses.
Under Colonel Curtis LeMay, this was achieved with a staggered box formation and adopted successfully by all American squadrons throughout the 8th Air Force.”
As commander of the 4th Bombardment Wing, LeMay was promoted to Brigadier General in 1943 and transferred to 3rd Bomb division. Brave in combat, LeMay led several missions, notably the Schweinfurt-Regensburg raid in 1943 and later he led 146 B-17s to their target in Germany and on to bases in Africa.
In August 1944 he was transferred to the China-Burma-India theatre as leader of 21st Bomber Command. Believing that Japan’s manufacturing industry had to be destroyed if America were to launch a successful invasion of Japan, he supported fire raids which would destroy whole sections of cities associated with manufacturing. Always prepared to be controversial he is quoted as saying,
“Killing Japanese didn’t bother me very much at the time…. I suppose if I had lost the war, I would have been tried as a war criminal….. every soldier thinks something of the moral aspects of what he is doing. But all war is immoral and if you let that bother you, you are not a good soldier.”
After the war, LeMay served in administrative positions before being assigned to command US Air Forces in Europe and organising air operations for the Berlin Airlift. Later he returned to the United States to lead Strategic Air Command for nine years. LeMay began the process of adding intercontinental ballistic missiles as an element of the national nuclear arsenal.
He later became Chief of Staff for the US Air Force promoting the idea that strategic air campaigns were always the favoured option. In the 1960’s he began to utilise satellite technology and maintained strong views regarding the use of missiles in Cuba and strategic bombing in Vietnam. His attitude was, “If you kill enough of them, they stop fighting………. All war is immoral and if you let that bother you, you’re not a good soldier.”
In February 1965, and unable to agree with government policy, LeMay retired from the USAF. He retired from public life in 1968 having failed to secure the necessary votes to run for vice-president.
DSC, DSM w/2Oak Leaf Cluster, DFC w/2Oak Leaf Cluster, SS, AM w/3Oak Leaf Cluster, ADSM, NDSM, ACM, EAME w/3 stars, APCM w/4 stars, WWII VM, Army of Occupation Medal with the Berlin Airlift emblem, Medal for Human Action
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot, Co-Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Co-pilot, Mullane crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 42-31357 "Our Desire". Mission to the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, GE. MACR 3865. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft I.
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Division
In December 1944, the 3rd Bomb Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 17/2/43; Gore Fd 8/3/43; Gulfport 31/3/43; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-P] Alconbury 5/4/43; 335BS [OE-P]; 6m, transferred 92BG Alconbury 12/6/43 but switched to 3BD HQ as hack for Curtis Le May; Returned to the USA Grenier 26/12/44;...
Military site : airfield
Chelveston was adapted and expanded in preparation for the arrival of American forces. Rather than heavy bombers, the first aircraft to fly from its runways were C-47 Skytrains that were flown by the 60th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942. The first...
Military site : airfield
Grafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Columbus, Ohio | 15 November 1906 |
| Died | 1 October 1990 | |
| Buried | Air Force Academy Colorado Springs |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 30 September 2017 16:22:39 | Al_Skiff | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Roger Freeman Photo. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 February 2016 15:31:58 | Anne Hughes | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Daily Telegraph Supplement 1992 - The Yanks |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 November 2014 20:14:02 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, awards and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-Nov-2014. Awards listed: from previous ingest information; CO 305BG dates: http://www.usaaf.com/8thaf/bomber/305bg.HTM |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:06:41 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / The Mighty Eighth by Roger Freeman; Combat Crews page 141; |
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