Iron Eagle: The Turbulent Life of General Curtis LeMay

by Thomas M. Coffey

A biography of the Air Force commander details his innovations, leadership decisions and strategies, and controversial actions and statements throughout his career, from World War II general to Chief of Staff

Genres: Biography, Military History

474 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 9, 1987

About the author

A former critic for the Los Angeles Mirror, Thomas Coffey grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, studied at the University of Wisconsin and served as a pilot in the Pacific during World War II.

Reviews

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard the name Curtis LeMay as a 10-year-old kid in the eventful summer of 1968. That was the year he signed on as a vice-presidential candidate on George Wallace’s ticket. I have vague memories of negative news coverage, and I’ve always wondered what that was about. This book explains that a bit and so much more.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled bills this as a “sympathetic portrait,” and that’s an accurate description. If you read this, you’ll follow LeMay’s childhood and youth in depression-era Ohio, his attendance at The Ohio State University, and the fascinating manipulation of the system that got him assigned to flight school.

LeMay would ultimately rise to a position of tremendous influence and power during World War II. He literally designed the phenomenally destructive bombing campaign that slammed so hard into Germany, and he built an air campaign that resulted in the almost-obliteration of a vast amount of Japan’s cities.

It was LeMay who developed and implemented the Strategic Air Command, an integral part of our defense against the Soviets in the cold war. His extremely blunt social style earned him the moniker Iron Ass from the men whom he oversaw, and he was ironically known as the diplomat for the same brusque style.

He briefly served Kennedy and Johnson as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but he retired in 1965 when it became clear that he and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara were going to bang heads until both were bloody.

Still, there is a soft touch to LeMay, and the author shows you that in abundance. You learn of his close friendship with radio star Arthur Godfrey, and you learn of his love for restoring classic cars. Some of the funniest chapters are those that describe pranks he pulled to prove to base officials that their security details were worth little or nothing. These proved both humorous and way scary.

The biographer insists that LeMay never advocated for the use of nuclear weapons against the North Vietnamese. The book explains the confusion behind the accusation, but the author solidly insists LeMay never actually said what others claimed they heard.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Complete biography of the general whose efforts led to the formation of the Air Force. He's compared to Patton several times. While I'm not Patton's biggest fan, it was refreshing to read about a general who actually wanted to win wars. They seem to be extinct today.

[David Corleto-Bales · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat uncritical biography of General Curtis LeMay, from his Ohio boyhood and his time at West Point and the infant United States Army Air Corps to his leadership during World War II where he revolutionized strategic bombing in Europe, (attacking Germany with squadrons of B-17s in swarms) and then was sent to Asia to burn down all the cities of Japan. LeMay was responsible for millions of civilian casualties in both countries and many others, and conceded that if we had lost the war he would have been executed as a war criminal; a father of the Strategic Air Command and the nuclear Air Force as well as NORAD, LeMay served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Kennedy and Johnson, retiring in 1965 after years of feuding over Vietnam with Robert McNamara who wanted incremental and limited bombing. LeMay saw the Cuba Missile Crisis end as a defeat, and told President Kennedy to first strike the Russians when we had the chance, prompting Kennedy to quip to aides that "If we do what he wants, none of us will be left alive later to tell him he was wrong." The book only touches on the few years after his retirement and his vice presidential run with George Wallace in 1968. LeMay saw Vietnam was a failure that could have been a victory, saying "we dropped 520,000 tons of bombs on Japan and won the war and dropped 6,500,000 tons of bombs on North Vietnam and lost. The difference was that World War II, I picked the targets, and in Vietnam McNamara did."

[Nicholas Kokolakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and again, I read a book that proves to be pivotal, at the time I’m reading it, in shaping my understanding of the military profession. Certain men, certain leaders, and certain figures cast a wide, broad shadow across the historical landscape that leave a tremendous impact on my own officership: do this, don’t do that; listen to these people; focus your energy and attention here. LeMay’s story and this book are exactly that for me as a junior field grade officer. It is the chance to focus my energies on how to help fix the 336th while still maintaining a semblance of myself. 1) Fly. Fly. Fly. Leaders cannot and will not be capable of leading a combat flying organization if they aren’t out flying. The hard ones. 2) Be exacting, that doesn’t mean be rude, harsh or unfeeling, but demand performance and follow up with your own! Lead through credibility not through dictation. 3) Surround yourself with the best people: pilots, administrators, technicians, and then constantly push them to their limits. 4) Break down the tasks before you and get them done. Simple as that. I’m grateful to have read this book now.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't be put off because it's a military book. I know NOTHING about the military or air force and found this an enjoyable read. Have rated it 4 stars because firstly, I love biographies and secondly the subject matter in the 1960's has always intrigued me about the mechanisms of war and how government responds to it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

General Curtis LeMay was the US Air Force's equivalent to the US Army's General George S. Patton, Jr. From Wing Commander in the Pacific Theater during WWII to Air Force Commander during the Vietnam War to a failed political career in the 1968 Presidential Election as George Wallace's running mate.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this an excellent book about an important WWII figure I knew nothing about. Well written and informative, I learned alot about the importance of the air campaign on both fronts in WWII. Great book.

[Clayton Brannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read about a great American General.

[David Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Excellent history. It answered so many questions I had. A great read.