Tunner

As most of you know, this Tunner loader that everybody talked to me about today is not called a Tunner because it lifts a lot of tons.

Remarks By The President To Dover Afb Community ITY National Archives 1998

In the middle of all that, Cannon’s deputy, General Robert Douglas, called Tunner to say, “I don’t want to discourage you, Bill, but even if you have a lot of tonnage but it drops off the next day, Joe’s going to raise hell.”

Daring Young Men RICHARD REEVES 2010

General Clay called Tunner and said, “I don’t know what you’re doing, but keep it up.”

Daring Young Men RICHARD REEVES 2010

Tunner knew what he wanted from his men, from the planes, from his superiors—and in logistics and from publicity and public relations, too.

Daring Young Men RICHARD REEVES 2010

He was sure that Tunner had timed the announcement of the American-British Joint Task Force to divert attention from the old fighter pilot taking over from the great LeMay, who had come out of service in both Europe and the Pacific with a reputation as the boy wonder of bombing.

Daring Young Men RICHARD REEVES 2010

The system was essentially the plan worked out by Forman and Bettinger after Tunner “locked” them in a hotel room for three days.

Daring Young Men RICHARD REEVES 2010

Finally, one day early in September, Clay saw him, walked up and said, “Any problems, Tunner?”

Daring Young Men RICHARD REEVES 2010

Tunner would not accept it, but agreed to present it to the American who had flown the most missions to that date, Paul Lykins, a twenty-five-year-old lieutenant from Brownsville, Texas, who had flown forty-six round-trips in forty-two days.

Daring Young Men RICHARD REEVES 2010

Tunner personally had called the German Red Cross and asked them to staff the rolling snack bars with the prettiest girls they could find.

Daring Young Men RICHARD REEVES 2010

“I expect you to produce,” Tunner was told that day by LeMay, whose tough-guy image was enhanced by the cigar that was always at the corner of his mouth.

Daring Young Men RICHARD REEVES 2010