Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War

by Robert Coram

The Army did not want Burton around for those tests, however, so Army generals talked to Air Force generals, who sent down word that Burton was being transferred to Alaska. He was given a seven-day notice to accept the transfer or resign. It was just as Boyd predicted: a brutal, head-on assault. And it appeared effective. After all, if there is a bothersome employee, what better way to get rid of him than to transfer him? Burton thought the battle was over. But Boyd laughed. “Goddamn, Jim, this is the dumbest decision the Air Force can make. Whoever made this decision is general officer material.” He told Burton to collect every memo and every letter and every study in his files that dealt with the Bradley controversy, to make copies, and to flood the Building with little brothers and sisters. Burton protested. “I thought you wanted me to work within the system.” “Jim, part of working within the system means that everyone who has a right to know what’s going on has a copy of all the paperwork.” He paused. And when he spoke again Burton heard the laughter in his voice. “If something needs to leak outside the Building, God will take care of it.” Not even the most militant of Burton’s opponents could fault him for providing information to those connected with the Bradley program, so Burton emptied the contents of a filing cabinet and made copies of every document. He delivered copies to a number of people. A cover memo explained that he had been relieved of his job and that t...

Subversive countermove: action opens up opp for factual flood