Notable people · Military
Curtis LeMay
Born in Columbus, Ohio, he studied civil engineering at Ohio State, commanded the Strategic Air Command and served as Air Force chief of staff.
At a glance
- Born
- 1906-11-15
- Died
- 1990-10-01
- Education
- Columbus South High School, Columbus, OH
- Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, BS civil engineering
- Known as
- Military
- Organizations
- US Air Force, Strategic Air Command, Ohio State University
Life story
Curtis Emerson LeMay was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1906 to a working-class family; his father was an ironworker. He went to Columbus South High School and studied civil engineering at Ohio State.
He joined the Army Air Corps Reserve in 1929, became a navigator and bomber pilot, and married Helen Maitland in 1934.
In World War II he led the 305th Bomb Group in England, moved to the China-Burma-India theater in 1944, and directed the March 1945 firebombing of Tokyo.
He took over Strategic Air Command in 1948, served as Air Force chief of staff from 1961 to 1965, and ran for vice president with George Wallace in 1968. He died in California in 1990 and is buried at the Air Force Academy.
Timeline
- 1906-11-15: Born (Columbus, OH) source
- 1929-10: Commissioned in the Army Air Corps Reserve (United States) source
- 1934-06-09: Marries Helen Maitland (United States) source
- 1942-10: Takes 305th Bomb Group to England (England) source
- 1945-03-10: Tokyo firebombing (Tokyo) source
- 1948: Heads Strategic Air Command (Offutt AFB, NE) source
- 1961: Becomes Air Force chief of staff (Washington, DC) source
- 1968: Runs as Wallace's vice-presidential candidate (United States) source
- 1990-10-01: Dies (March AFB, CA) source
What Curtis is known for
- Commanded Strategic Air Command 1948-1957
- Chief of Staff of the US Air Force 1961-1965
Honors and things named for them
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Order of the Rising Sun, Grand Cordon (Japan, 1964)
Family
- wife: Helen Maitland LeMay
Ohio places
Where Curtis LeMay was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Born: Columbus, Franklin County ZIP 43215 · Columbus · Franklin County
- School: Columbus, Franklin County (Ohio State University, B.S. civil engineering (graduation year given as 1929 by Wikipedia; other sources differ)) ZIP 43210 · Columbus · Franklin County
Myths and corrections
- Disputed: Sources disagree on the year he earned his degree: 1929 in one, 1927 or 1932 in others.
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- Wikipedia: Curtis LeMay born 1906-11-15 Columbus; OSU civil engineering; SAC 1948-57; Air Force chief of staff 1961-65; died 1990-10-01