American Airpower Comes of Age

PARIS, CANNES, ITALY, NORTH AFRICA, SOUTH AMERICA
strong point out of it. Nearby was stone church built in 1300
and something. When the Germans pulled out, they destroyed
the lighthouse and the church. 105
Sheffield returned with all arrangements made for trip to
Italy; looks OK for stay in Florence. Pete and Hank returned
from trip to Marseilles; that must be one awful place; filthy,
filled with scum of the earth. Worst example of Negroes and
Whites living together and co-mingling with venereal rate
going up by leaps and bounds. Overcast most of the day;
rather cool. Dinner with all present for a change; bed at 9:00.
Thursday, April 19, 1945 [Cannes, France]
Up at 7:30, overcast sky. Holding weight steady, 182-3 in
morning, 185-6 in evening. French destroyer sunk by German
E-boat some 50 miles from here 2 nights ago. 106 Went for walk
with Hank Pool; lunch and rest.
Ira and Tuey came in at 3:30. Conference became “heated”
at times, especially when Ira said: “I didn’t ask to go to Washington.”
Then I exploded: “Who in the hell ever did ask to go to
Washington? Do you think I asked to go there and stay there
for 10 years? Someone has to run the AAF. We can’t all be in
command of AF [Air Forces] around the world!” Tuey stepped
in and calmed us down.
In any event, it was finally decided:
a. Jimmy Doolittle would go to command XX Bomber
Command in Pacific.
b. Fred Anderson would be A-1.
c. A new A-2 would be found.
d. Vandenberg would be A-3.
e. Norstad would go to Plans.
f. LeMay would take over A-4.
g. Knerr would take over Knudsen’s job.
h. Harmon would go to Spaatz.
i. Hodges would be asked to retire.
j. Wilson would take over Valparaiso.
k. Gardner would go overseas.
l. Echols already scheduled for Clay’s outfit.
m. Hale to take Parker’s AF.
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