I simply do not believe these quotes. LeMay? And Hap Arnold? No way.
Revisionists have been cherry-picking quotes for 70+ years.
The Navy was jealous because The Bomb took all the glory they coveted. Granted they got us within bomber range, but it was LeMay who crippled the homeland’s military machinery. The Navy couldn’t deliver 1% of the bombs on target that the B-29s could in any given day.
Really! Lemay of all people. I think they stretched it a little too far.
General Anthony C. McAuliffe wholeheartedly agrees, saying: "Nuts!"
LeMay had burned out over 35% of most major cities with his firebombing tactics. They could have done it without the atomic bomb, just not as quickly.
Plus McArthur really wanted to invade to on up Ike and be the biggest of big dogs.
Wasn't it LeMay that was in charge of the fire bombing of Tokoyo? How many citizens did the fire bombings kill?