Lessons from the Bomber Mafia: Grudges, Grief, and the Dangers of Offense

Major General Curtis LeMay grew frustrated with the failed strategies that resulted in significant casualties for the United States. The idealism of the “Bomber Mafia” was costing lives and hindering victory against German and Japanese forces.

His rival, Major General Haywood S. Hansell, spent years trying to persuade leaders to adopt a precision bombing strategy using the Norden bombsite. However, the technology was still developing, and Hansell lacked the necessary discipline and careful planning to execute the strategy effectively.

During a crucial operation, LeMay’s bombers cleared a path and served as decoys to divert German aerial defense forces away from the target site. Meanwhile, Hansell’s forces were supposed to follow and eliminate the strategic site. Unfortunately, Hansell’s team had not practiced taking off in England’s frequent fog, resulting in delays. The attack had minimal impact on the targets, and since the Germans were not called back to their base, they continued to pursue LeMay’s fighters, causing significant losses.

Despite repeated failures, Hansell somehow convinced leaders to allow him to continue pursuing the unsuccessful strategy in both Europe and Japan. LeMay witnessed unnecessary risks and losses until he finally replaced Hansell as the commander. by that time, he had built up a rage against the enemy and and a determination to win at any cost.

Hansell’s refusal to use napalm against Japanese towns ultimately led to his dismissal. LeMay, on the other hand, had no reservations about employing such tactics. His fleet unleashed fire on numerous Japanese towns, burning civilians alive and leaving a horrifying stench in the air. After devastating the country with fire, LeMay oversaw the dropping of atomic bombs to conclude the job. He later acknowledged that if the United States had lost the war, he would have been tried as a war criminal.

LeMay went on to serve as the Air Force Chief of Staff under John F. Kennedy, where he advocated for highly aggressive tactics like bombing nuclear missile sites in Cuba. He even suggested the possibility of invading Cuba after the Soviets agreed to withdraw their missiles.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book “The Bomber Mafia,” he highlights how LeMay kept an oversized photo of the fleet he lost in the ill-fated flight, resembling Absalom’s nursing of a legitimate offense that led to violent actions. Like LeMay, Absalom burned with anger over the injustice inflicted upon someone dear to him. Both men constantly held onto their grievances, and their anger drove them to inflict destruction on a scale far greater than the original offense.

What lessons can we learn from this?

1. Pay attention to individuals who hold grudges as it can bias their actions.
2. Allow ourselves to grieve losses and acknowledge sadness because anger often becomes its bodyguard. If we ignore this grief, anger can take over and create even more victims.
3. Offense distorts judgment. It is better to step back and address personal issues before making difficult decisions.