Cataclysm: General Hap Arnold and the Defeat of Japan

Acknowledgments

xi Acknowledgments First and foremost, I am indebted to all the historians who have researched and written on the Pacific war. Their scholarship has thrown critical light on the end of the war in the Pacific and eased the path of this author. Similarly, this book could not have been written without the help of the many dedicated archivists at the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress. Their diligence and timeliness were greatly appreciated. Many archivists at National Archives II, College Park, Maryland, were indispensable to the author’s sustained search through the enormous record collections. Timothy Nenninger helped with insightful comments pertaining to the records of the Headquarters, Twentieth Air Force. The author would like to thank John Taylor, a legend in his own time, for an all-too-brief chat which jump-started an especially flagging day of research. Robert Clark, supervisory archivist at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library at Hyde Park, New York, gave the author his unique expertise on President Roosevelt’s records pertaining to air matters during World War II. Robert was unsparing in lending his time to this project. Archivists Virginia Lewick and Alycia Vivona eased the path through the Roosevelt collections for the author and his wife, Sandy, without whose research ability this project could not have been completed. Ronald Chrisman, director of the University of North Texas Press, guided the author through the many demanding stages of publication. During crucial points in the long writing process, Ron’s steadiness and enthusiasm carried the day. I owe xii Cataclysm a great debt to Karen J. DeVinney, managing editor of the UNT Press, for editing this book with discernment, knowledge, and rare ability to find the perfect word for any difficult situation. Many thanks to designer Steve Tiano for his imaginative work that set this book solidly in time and place. I am also deeply grateful for the support of Philip Meilinger and Dik Alan Daso in the early stages of conceptualizing this book. Chancellor\President Emeritus of the University of North Texas, Alfred F. Hurley, friend and colleague, and one of the nation’s great advocates of military history, provided important support to the author at critical junctures. Professor Eric Bergerud, with his keen knowledge of the war in the Pacific, gave especially insightful comments and observations on the manuscript. Yvonne Kinkaid, director of the Library at the Office of Air Force History, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., was indispensable with her knowledge of Air Force collections. On numerous occasions, she also answered questions and offered suggestions. At critical moments, she also came through as lending librarian . Also at the Bolling library, Terri Kiss was unfailing in answering inquiries. George Watson and Roger Miller, historians of the Office of Air Force History , answered questions and helped with all manner of things. George saved the day many times with his deliveries of much-needed books. This work could not have been completed without Mary Lee Jefferson, senior editor in the Office of Air Force History, whose selective eye contributed photos for the centerpiece gallery. I want to express my great appreciation to my daughter Jill Kephart, who stepped in at a critical juncture to apply her technological knowledge to the photo gallery. Jack Neufeld, superb editor of Air Power History, helped point to research materials and edited an article on General Arnold adapted from this book. Moreover , Jack proved to be an unflagging friend, who as a fellow retiree from the Air Force Historical Studies Office, always found time to be a morale-booster in so many ways. I am indebted to Maj. Gen. John W. Huston, former Chief of the Office of Air Force History, for his many insightful observations during our telephone conversations about General Arnold’s command of the Army Air Forces in World War II. Warren Kozak, author of LeMay: The Life and Wars of General Curtis LeMay, has been for several years a trove of information on LeMay and a true friend and supporter. Heartfelt thanks to Kreg Kephart and Dave Sheffer for being there. My wife Sandy was a full partner in this book: researcher, trip arranger, and the editor who took the long legal pages and made them into manuscript. For this, and a thousand other courtesies and kindnesses, I give my love and admiration. The attack on Japan by the B-29 from distant bases introduces a new type of offensive against the enemy. It also creates a new problem in the...