Bernard Schriever
Bernard Schriever | |
---|---|
Air Research and Development Command Air Force Systems Command | |
Battles/wars | World War II
|
Awards | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2)Legion of Merit |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 3 |
Bernard Adolph "Bennie" Schriever (14 September 1910 – 20 June 2005) was a United States Air Force general who played a major role in the Air Force's space and ballistic missile programs.
Born in
During
In 1954, Schriever became head of the
Early life
Bernard Adolph Schriever was born in
As a wave of
His mother found work as a housekeeper for a wealthy banker, Edward Chandler, supervising the half dozen or so staff that worked in his mansion. She managed to earn enough money working to take the boys back from the orphanage. Chandler built her a house near the twelfth hole of the Brackenridge Park Golf Course in San Antonio, and her mother immigrated from Germany to care for the boys while she worked. After Chandler died, Schriever's mother turned the refreshment stand that he had built for the children into a thriving business that sold sandwiches, cookies, lemonade, and soft drinks to golfers. The boys became proficient at the sport, and Schriever made the semifinals of the Texas junior championships in June 1927, winning a pair of golf shoes.[5]
Schriever became a
Between the wars
At Texas A&M in those days, the entire all-male student body served in the college's Corps of Cadets and hence the
Schriever's first posting was to
However, in the wake of the Air Mail scandal, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called on the Air Corps to deliver the mail, and Schriever flew mail deliveries in Douglas O-38 and Keystone B-4 aircraft. It was dangerous work in bad weather, as neither aircraft was equipped for instrument flying. The air mail delivery allowed Schriever to extend his active service by eight months, but he was still a reservist. He left active duty in March 1935 and returned to San Antonio. In June he volunteered to direct a Civilian Conservation Corps camp of about 200 teenage youths.[10] He applied for a regular commission, but was unsuccessful.[12]
Schriever was able to return to active duty in October 1936, but he had to revert to the rank of second lieutenant. This time he was posted to
In August 1937, Schriever was released from active duty at his own request, and became a pilot with Northwest Airlines, flying a Lockheed Model 10 Electra between Seattle and Billings, Montana. He married Dora in a ceremony at Arnold's house in Washington, DC, on 3 January 1938. They would later name their first child Brett Arnold. Brett was born in 1939.[14] Two more children followed: Dodie Elizabeth in 1941 and Barbara Alice in 1949.[15] Later that year Arnold, now a brigadier general, came out to Seattle to meet with Boeing executives, and he played a round of golf with Schriever and two others. Arnold urged Schriever to apply for a regular commission one more time, because war was approaching and skilled pilots were needed. Schriever did so, although it meant a cut in pay and reverting to the rank of second lieutenant. This time he was successful, and became a regular officer on 1 October 1938.[14]
World War II
Schriever was assigned to
Although Schriever had requested to be transferred to a combat zone after the
Post-war
Aircraft
After the war ended, Schriever returned to the United States on 24 September 1945.[22] In January 1946, he joined the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) headquarters at the Pentagon as chief of the Scientific Liaison Branch in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Materiel. He worked closely with the USAAF Scientific Advisory Board, which was headed by Theodore von Kármán.[23] He was serving there when the United States Air Force (USAF) became independent from the Army in July 1947.[24] In July 1949, Schriever entered the National War College.[25] He became known for complaining that there was "too much polishing of doorknobs instead of putting new technology to work."[26]
On graduating the following year, he expected to receive a field command, perhaps Vice Commander of the Air Proving Grounds at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, but instead returned to the Pentagon as Deputy Assistant for Evaluation under the newly created Deputy Chief of Staff for Development. His office, which performed or contracted for analytical work, was renamed the Development Planning Office in January 1951.[27] He became an advocate of increased research and development, and instituted a systems engineering approach to the introduction of new technology.[28] He instituted a system of Development Planning Objectives (DPOs) that attempted to match promising new technologies with major Air Force missions rather than merely attempting to improve existing capabilities.[27] To formulate his DPOs, Schriever turned to the Scientific Advisory Board, RAND Corporation and outside consultants from industry and academia for help.[29]
Schriever clashed repeatedly with General Curtis LeMay of the Strategic Air Command (SAC).[27] One disagreement was over the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion project. LeMay wanted a supersonic bomber, but the scientists and engineers kept telling Schriever that only a subsonic one was possible. At LeMay's insistence, the project continued until it was cancelled by President John F. Kennedy in 1961.[30] When Schriever proposed extending the life of the USAF's Boeing B-47 Stratojets by strengthening the wings and cutting back on production of the new Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, thereby saving billions of dollars, LeMay flew into a rage. Schriever backed down, and later admitted that LeMay was right; over the years the B-52 proved to be the better investment.[31]
When Schriever forecast that the
Inevitably, they disagreed over the specification of a successor to the B-52. LeMay wanted a larger bomber that could carry a heavier bomb load to a higher altitude with longer range and supersonic speed. Schriever thought that the increase in altitude and speed would not save it from surface-to-air missiles. A compromise resulted in the development of the Convair B-58 Hustler, a supersonic high-altitude medium bomber that satisfied neither.[32]
Schriever was promoted to brigadier general on 23 June 1953. LeMay tried to have him sent to South Korea to command the logistics units of the Fifth Air Force. Lieutenant General
Missiles
In March 1953, Schriever attended a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board at
The USAF had an ICBM project initially known as Project
Schriever found an ally in the incoming
To steer the project, Gardner created a special Scientific Advisory Committee chaired by von Neumann in April 1954. Its nine members included seven who had served on the Teapot Committee.
The normal model for management of Air Forces projects was for them to be managed by the airframe manufacturer, with USAF oversight. This was favored by high-ranking Air Force officers and was the model that Schriever initially proposed. It had worked well on aircraft development projects as recently as the B-47 and B-52, but not so well on recent missile projects like
The Scientific Advisory Committee was happy with this proposal, except for Franklin R. Collbohm, the president of RAND.[48] Not so Power, who felt that he was being made responsible for an expensive, high-profile and risky project that would be run by Schriever on the West Coast, where supervision would be difficult.[49] But Power could see that the proposal had high-level support, and was more interested in what was done than how it was done. Schriever's aide, Major Bryce Poe II, was able to convince him to accept the organizational arrangements.[50] Schriever made a point of keeping Power informed with weekly progress reports and frequently travelled to Baltimore to meet with him. When the opportunity arose, he played golf with him.[49] Schriever eventually won Power over, and he recommended Schriever for promotion.[51] Schriever also had to deal with opposition from the president of Convair, Joseph T. McNarney, and his vice president, Thomas George Lanphier Jr.[52]
On 13 September 1955, President
In addition to the work on Atlas, the Secretary of the Air Force
On 25 September 1957, Major General
USAF research and development activities were split between ARDC and the Air Materiel Command (AMC) until 1 April 1961, when White reorganized them. ARDC became the Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) and all research and development activities were consolidated under it. Schriever became commander of the new organization, one of the responsibilities of which was acquiring missiles.[64] LeMay considered that missiles mainly had political value, and their prime function should be to clear the way for the bombers.[65] After Schriever was promoted to general on 1 July 1961, LeMay looked at his four stars and pointed out that had it been up to him, Schriever "would not have been wearing those".[66]
The first Atlas missile squadrons became operational on 2 September 1960, with 132 missiles operational by 20 December 1962. Titan deployment began on 18 April 1962, and by 28 September 1962, some 54 Titan missiles were operational, organized as six squadrons of nine missiles each.
In 1965, Schriever received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[70]
In 1966, Schriever was the 1966 recipient of the General William E. Mitchell Memorial Award for his “outstanding contributions to the aerospace science and military posture of the United States.”[71]
Later years
In retirement, Schriever became a consultant to various corporate and government clients. He served on company boards, and was a member of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board under President Ronald Reagan. His marriage deteriorated after 1968 when he began an affair with another woman, and he and his wife separated but did not divorce, as she was a devout Roman Catholic.[69] In 1986, Schriever met the popular singer Joni James. He finally obtained a divorce and they married on 5 October 1997.[72]
In honor of his service, Schriever was inducted into the
Schriever died at his home in Washington, D.C., on 20 June 2005 at the age of 94 from complications of pneumonia.[79]
Notes
- ^ "Biography of Major General Bernard A. Schriever" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. 11 May 1956. pp. 16, 37–38. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ a b Boyne 2000, p. 81.
- ^ a b Sheehan 2009, pp. 3–5.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 6–7.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 8–11.
- ^ a b c "Biographies: General Bernard Adolph Schriever". United States Air Force. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ "General Bernard Adolph Schriever". United States Air Force. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 11–13.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 13–15.
- ^ a b Boyne 2000, p. 82.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 16–19.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, p. 25.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 24–27.
- ^ a b Sheehan 2009, pp. 24–28.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, p. 267.
- ^ Neufeld 2005, p. 4.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 28–31.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 31–32.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, p. 40.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 43–44.
- ^ a b "Bernard Schriever". Military Times Hall Of Valor. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ a b Sheehan 2009, p. 47.
- ^ Neufeld 2005, p. 5.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, p. 125.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 127–128.
- ^ Hughes 1998, p. 95.
- ^ a b c d Neufeld 2005, p. 6.
- ^ Hughes 1998, p. 96.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, p. 129.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 156–159.
- ^ a b Sheehan 2009, pp. 160–166.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 166–170.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 172–173.
- ^ a b Sheehan 2009, pp. 177–179.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, pp. 69–70.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, pp. 78–79.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, p. 98.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 193–194.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, pp. 95–98.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, pp. 99–103.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, p. 106.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, p. 110.
- ^ a b c Neufeld 1990, pp. 107–108.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 231–232.
- ^ Johnson 2002, p. 35.
- ^ Hughes 1998, pp. 96–101.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 232–235.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, pp. 111–114.
- ^ a b Sheehan 2009, pp. 249–253.
- ^ Neufeld 2005, p. 11.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, p. 260.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 253–259.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, p. 135.
- ^ Hughes 1998, p. 125.
- ^ Johnson 2006, p. 55.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, p. 141.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, pp. 130–131.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, pp. 143–144.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 316–317.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, pp. 227–230.
- ^ a b Sheehan 2009, pp. 358–361.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, p. 371.
- ^ Young 2016, pp. 98–99.
- ^ Neufeld 2005, p. 22.
- ^ Neufeld 1990, p. 142.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, p. 470.
- ^ Boyne 2000, p. 86.
- ^ Neufeld 2005, p. 24.
- ^ a b Sheehan 2009, pp. 470–471.
- American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ "Washington Memos". Commanders Digest. v.2:no.33. Department of Defense United States: 2. 23 April 1966.
- ^ Sheehan 2009, pp. 472–473.
- ^ "Enshrinee Bernard Schriever". nationalaviation.org. National Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "Bernard A. Schriever, Leadership (1982)". The Franklin Institute. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Schriever: A brief history > Schriever Air Force Base > Display". Schriever Air Force Base. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Alamogordo Hall of Fame Honors 5 Space-Flight Pioneers". El Paso Times. El Paso, Texas. 2 September 1997. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Symposium Awards". National Space Symposium. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "We walked with a legend". Schriever Air Force Base. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Gen. Bernard Schriever, 94, Air Force Missile Chief, Dies". The New York Times. 24 June 2005. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
References
- Boyne, Walter J. (October 2000). "The Man Who Built the Missiles" (PDF). Air Force Magazine. Vol. 83, no. 10. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
- OCLC 852383174.
- Johnson, Stephen B. (Spring 2002). "Bernard Schriever and the Scientific Vision". Air Power History. 49 (1): 515–523. JSTOR 2627428.
- Johnson, Stephen B. (2006). The Secret of Apollo: Systems Management in American and European Space Programs. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press. OCLC 660823008.
- Neufeld, Jacob (1990). The Development of Ballistic Missiles in the United States Air Force 1945-1960 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 20826476. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- Neufeld, Jacob (2005). Bernard A. Schriever: Challenging the Unknown (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- OCLC 690668495.
- Young, Ken (2016). The American Bomb in Britain: US Air Forces' Strategic Presence 1946–64. Manchester: Manchester University Press. OCLC 942707047.