Curtis LeMay and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.

[Hawk66]

Does anybody know why Curtis LeMay received the "Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun" ?

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_LeMay but haven't found anything about the reason...

[Oberon]

Extensive real estate redevelopment?

EDIT: Apparently it was for his work in developing the post-war Self-Defence Air Force. Although some rumours persist that it was as a return favour for the US giving Minoru Genda (of Pearl Harbor fame) the Legion of Merit, which in turn likely had a lot to do with him choosing the F-104 Starfighter over the F-11 Super Tiger for the JSDAF, which was a real murky mess involving underworld figures and a lot of bribery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_bribery_scandals

Hey, Hey, HEY!!
He was from Ohio so back off!

(And what the hell is "Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun" ?)


If you research people that got famous after they left Ohio?
You'll find a bunch.
If you research people that got famous by staying in Ohio?
(I need to move!)

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Extensive real estate redevelopment?

EDIT: Apparently it was for his work in developing the post-war Self-Defence Air Force. Although some rumours persist that it was as a return favour for the US giving Minoru Genda (of Pearl Harbor fame) the Legion of Merit, which in turn likely had a lot to do with him choosing the F-104 Starfighter over the F-11 Super Tiger for the JSDAF, which was a real murky mess involving underworld figures and a lot of bribery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_bribery_scandals

Which IIRC put paid to most of the expected exports of the EE Lightning (Saudi Arabia excluded).

[August]

Probably for promising he wouldn't firebomb them anymore...

[vienna]

I had a teacher back in junior high (middke school) who served on an airbase in the US. LeMay arrived at the base and took command of the facilities. My teacher was in charge of the parking of the planes on the airbase and he told us there were very specifc rules and regulations regarding how the planes were to be placed and the minutiae that attended such as the angle og the palne inrlataion to the runways and the positioning of turret guns, etc. Shortly after LeMay took command, my teacher said he got a call directly from Lemay, who was fit to be tied. It seems the reulation angling of the turret guns on the bombers was such as to have them aimed directly at LeMay's office; LeMay was not amused. He ordered the guns to be aimed elsewhere. When my teacher tried to explain he was following specific regulations and orders, LeMay threatend to to have him busted, brigged, court-martialed, and dishonorably discharged. THe guns were moved...,


<O>

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by vienna

I had a teacher back in junior high (middke school) who served on an airbase in the US. LeMay arrived at the base and took command of the facilities. My teacher was in charge of the parking of the planes on the airbase and he told us there were very specifc rules and regulations regarding how the planes were to be placed and the minutiae that attended such as the angle og the palne inrlataion to the runways and the positioning of turret guns, etc. Shortly after LeMay took command, my teacher said he got a call directly from Lemay, who was fit to be tied. It seems the reulation angling of the turret guns on the bombers was such as to have them aimed directly at LeMay's office; LeMay was not amused. He ordered the guns to be aimed elsewhere. When my teacher tried to explain he was following specific regulations and orders, LeMay threatend to to have him busted, brigged, court-martialed, and dishonorably discharged. THe guns were moved...,


<O>

Could be true I suppose.I understand that he was stern but fair and he never raised his voice and yelled that was not his style he displayed his disappointment in other ways so maybe he did say that to your old teacher because he felt that was the most effective way to get the message across.e was not really the pompous type so I suspect there might have been some other reason that he wanted the guns moved or perhaps the reason was not understood.

Also you have regulations but if an officer or NCO who is in that field of expertise to which the regulations are concerned tells you to do something different assuming the new order is not cause a new hazard you have to obey it.If a staff level officer gives you an order even if it stupid you pretty much have to obey it (exuding an unlawful order).

From what I read he was a fairly reasonable commander most of the time.For example after a few months of B-29 operations when they switched to night time fire bombing the need for the full battery of turrets on the B-29s was gone so they removed most of the remote turrets and the gunners stayed behind.After a week or so of this some of the air crew asked Lemay if the gunners could fly anyway if they wanted to because it improved crew morale Lemay approved.

Earlier in the war when Lemay was in charge of a B-17 unit in Europe in late 1943 US Army statisticians discovered that the ratio of bombers turning back before reaching the mission area was too high.Lemay decided to lead by example and flew lead on the next mission.He said during the briefing that he was to going to turn back without a good reason.He flew many missions over Germany at a rank where it was not a requirement to do so which is good leadership if you are not willing to risk your life why should you command others to risk theirs?

LeMay kind of got "the hard ass" label partly because he never openly challenged it when articles written about him made untrue claims.The most harsh commander in the USAAF was bar far Hap Arnold he was real screamer and yeller.He once dressed down a staff officer so badly that the man had a heart attack luckily the man did not die from it but still to be so intense that you make a person have a heart attack just by yelling at them.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Hawk66

Does anybody know why Curtis LeMay received the "Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun" ?

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_LeMay but haven't found anything about the reason...

The award for promoting 'cultural relations' was given to Lemay in 1964 for his service in developing the postwar Japanese air force; It is not strictly a military decoration. It has been given to over forty foreign nationals including Prime Minister John Majors.

[Hawk66]

I'm currently reading A Fiery Peace in a Cold War, which describes the R&D process of developing the ICBM program.

Great book and you find also a good, balanced view on LeMay...

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by privateer

I'll pass on the HAMM's though. Never tickeld my fancy, so to speak.
Even after proper introductions through Jim and Grant to 'real' beers?
I prefer Keystone light.
(I will now wait for proper trashing by the foreigners. Most especially Grant.
That upside down dweller is crafty!! )

No trashing from me mate. We all have individual tastes and if you like the taste of cats weeing in your mouth I won't try to disuade you

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by TarJak

No trashing from me mate. We all have individual tastes and if you like the taste of cats weeing in your mouth I won't try to disuade you

I don't believe Jeff drinks Foster's or VB

Originally Posted by TarJak

cats weeing in your mouth

Now that's funny right there!

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I don't believe Jeff drinks Foster's or VB

You've obviously erased the taste of the beer Jeff bought at that gas station in Houston from your memory. Oh how I've tried .

Originally Posted by TarJak

You've obviously erased the taste of the beer Jeff bought at that gas station in Houston from your memory. Oh how I've tried .

What. You don't like this beer?

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by TarJak

You've obviously erased the taste of the beer Jeff bought at that gas station in Houston from your memory. Oh how I've tried .

How could I ever forget.