With the Possum and the Eagle: The Memoir of a Navigator's War over Germany and Japan

19. The Beginning of the End for Hansell

Beginning End for !was concerned that Hansell's conflict with O'Donnell was impairing hisjudgment. He appeared lonely and withdrawn, seemingly engaged in a duel of nerves and will with Rosie. He had to know that he could not make his program succeed if his aircrews were hostile toward him. He also knew that 0 'Donnell was not alone in high-altitude nnpr1Clr,n bombing over Lt. Gen. George were pessimistic MacArthur's f::worite air force ',VUHuauu 'l".,raLULUUL daylight UH,',''''_H Arnold's staff would send him memos describing the success of LeMay's operations in China, which angered Hansell, who didn't appreciate the comparison of his bombing accuracy with LeMay'S. As the stress and pressures increased, Hansell felt that he had to either get control of the 73d Wing or he would have a breakdown. He wondered got such good was obvious that to be liked bv . Some feared him, would not permit disrupt his he decided to ing Wing's aircrews them the toughest to a commanding officer could give a combat unit. He telephoned O'Donnell and told him to assemble his crews for an immediate meeting. He didn't tell him its purpose. O'Donnell spoke first. He congratulated his crews for making a valiant under adverse conditions and told them he was mg them for the bombing strong winds high altitude. introduced Hansell, before tUl"Ilirlg a,Ssenlbled rr'''UTH,,',n, His face was dark and clouded. "I don't agree :with General O'Donnell at all," he began. "I disagree with him strongly. I don't think you people are making a maximum effort. You have not been earning your pay. You whine and complain about the wind, cloud 208 The Beginning of the End for Hansell 209 cover, and the B-29's mechanical problems. The combat conditions and weather here are no worse than our Eighth Air Force crews faced over Germany. "In fact, the flak, fighters, and the losses we experienced were much worse over Germany. You navigators and bombardiers are complaining that you don't have sufficient time to pick up a target on a downwind bomb run. All right, I will accept that. From now on, you will make your bomb runs from upwind. You will have more time to locate the target. You can use radar to assistyou ifyou think you need it. The extra time on an upwind run will give you an opportunity to show me that radar is as accurate as you claim. This meeting is dismissed ." The meeting had lasted less than five minutes. Hansell stalked out of the briefing room. I followed him outside trying to look as unobtrusive as possible. I avoided looking at O'Donnell or his combat crews. Hansell had to know that an upwind run at reduced ground speed would make the crews sitting ducks forJapanese antiaircraft and fighters. The jet stream's winds would slow down their approach to the targets by half. I wondered what had motivated Hansell to order upwind bomb runs. A lower and slower bomb run might improve results, butwould the crews believe he was risking their lives as a form of punishment or sanctions? This was not the Hansell I had known and worked for in England. I had always admired him as a sincere, idealistic, and dedicated leader. He had worked well with LeMay when LeMay was his subordinate . I knew that some of our 1st Wing meetings had been difficult for Hansell. This conflict with the 73d Wing had to be resolved before it led to a disaster. I wanted to tell Hansell about the combat crews' sincerity, dedication , and hard work; of how, with a little more training, the navigators , bombardiers, and radar operators could improve their bombing results by using radar as an adjunct to visual bombing. Would it be presumptuous for me, a twenty-four-year-old major, to make recommendations to a general with Hansell's experience and background ? That evening I had dinner at the mess hall with Tom Bowman, who had been present at the meeting. Neither of us had much to 210 WITH THE POSSUM AND THE EAGLE say. The atmosphere was strained and somber. I told Tom I was worried , that Hansell's comments earlier were completely out of character . He had overcome several tense and difficult situations in England . I told him I had been at...