Curtis LeMay

LeMay took command of the 305th Bombardment Group in England in 1942. He implemented rigorous training and formation tactics that reduced bomber losses to German fighters, establishing his reputation as an innovative and demanding commander in the Eighth Air Force.

On March 9-10, 1945, LeMay ordered 334 B-29 bombers to conduct a low-altitude incendiary raid on Tokyo. The attack destroyed 16 square miles of the city, killed an estimated 100,000 civilians, and burned out over one million residents, marking a shift to area bombing of Japanese cities.

LeMay was appointed commander of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in October 1948. He transformed SAC from a poorly organized force into a highly efficient nuclear deterrent, instituting rigorous training, 24-hour alert status, and a professional culture that defined Cold War air power.

LeMay served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force from June 1961 to February 1965. He advocated for expanded bombing campaigns in the Vietnam War, including the bombing of North Vietnam, and clashed with civilian leadership over strategy, particularly during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

LeMay was the vice presidential running mate for American Independent Party candidate George Wallace in the 1968 presidential election. His controversial suggestion that nuclear weapons could be used in Vietnam damaged the campaign, which ultimately won 13.5% of the popular vote.