Heap o' Links Fri Aug 26, 2022

My late father was a navigator for the Strategic Air Command in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He used to tell the following story about an incident he witnessed at Pease AFB in New Hampshire.

Gen. LeMay was inspecting the flight line, accompanied by the commanding officers of the base. At one point he walked up to a B-47 and snapped at the guard, "Airman, what is your duty here?"

The airman said, "Sir, I guard this aircraft." LeMay: "And what is that line?" Airman: "That is the limit to which I guard this aircraft, sir."

LeMay: "What would you do if I crossed that line?" Airman: "Sir, I would order you to halt." LeMay: "And what if I ignored your order?" Airman: "Sir, I would call the crew chief."

LeMay, exploding: "You stupid SOB! Why in God's name would you call the crew chief?" Airman: (with no change of tone): "To haul away your dead body, sir."

My father said LeMay glared at the airman for a couple of seconds, turned on his heel, and stomped away. As he passed the Wing Commander, he said, "Promote that man."