WINTER 2000 - Volume 47, Number 4 A “Pretty Damn Able Commander” — Lewis Hyde Brereton: Part I Roger G. Miller 4 Navy Buys Computer, Discovers Reliability: A Personal Account John Coutinho 28 Sikorsky’s Fighters Viktor P. Kulikov 36 The 67th Fighter Squadron “Fighting Cocks” at Guadalcanal Ralph H. Saltsman, Jr 46 Guadalcanal Diary: November 11, 1942 Robert L. Ferguson 47 Slanguage: Letters A-C Brian S. Gunderson 54 Departments: From the Editor 3 Book Reviews 60 Books Received 64 Coming Up 66 Foundation Notes 68 History Mystery 70 Letters, News, Notices, and Reunions 71 In Memoriam 73 COVER: This issue’s cover is derived from the graphite drawing produced by Megan Chamberlain, a first-year student at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, D.C. The Air Force Historical Foundation PostScript Picture (APH.eps) Air Force Historical Foundation 1535 Command Drive – Suite A122 Andrews AFB, MD 20762-7002 (301) 981-2139 (301) 981-3574 Fax The Journal of Air and Space History (formerly Aerospace Historian) Winter 2000 Volume 47 Number 4 Officers Contributing Members President The individuals and companies listed are contributing Gen. William Y. Smith, USAF (Ret) members of the Air Force Historical Foundation. The Publisher Vice-President Foundation Trustees and members are grateful for their Bryce Poe II Gen. John A. Shaud, USAF (Ret) support and contributions to preserving, perpetuating, Secretary-Treasurer and publishing the history and traditions of American Executive Assistant Maj. Gen. John S. Patton, USAF (Ret) aviation. to the Publisher Executive Director Brian S. Gunderson Col. Joseph A. Marston, USAF (Ret) Benefactor Mrs. Ruth A. (Ira C.) Eaker Estate Editor Advisors Jacob Neufeld Technical Editor Gen. Michael E. Ryan, USAF Patron Robert F. Dorr Lt. Gen. Tad J. Oelstrom, USAF Maj. Gen. Ramsay Potts Lt. Gen. Lance W. Lord, USAF Book Review Editor Brig. Gen. Ronald T. Rand, USAF Michael L. Grumelli Dr. Richard P. Hallion Sponsors CMSAF Frederick J. Finch, USAF Maj. Gen. William Lyon Layout and Typesetting SMSgt. Walt Grudzinskas, USAF Maj. Gen. John S. Patton Richard I. Wolf General Rawlings Chapter, AFA Trustees Col. Edward Rosenbaum, USAF (Ret) Advertising Gen. William Y. Smith Mark D. Mandeles Col. Kenneth J. Alnwick, USAF (Ret) Tomlinson Family Foundation Inc. Mr. F. Clifton Berry, Jr. Circulation Lt. Col. Maynard Y. Binge, USAF (Ret) Richard I. Wolf Gen. Mark E. Bradley, USAF (Ret) Donors Lt.Gen. Devol Brett, USAF (Ret) Mr. John F. Donahue Lt.Gen. William E. Brown, USAF (Ret) Emerson Electric Lt.Gen. Charles G. Cleveland, USAF (Ret) Rockwell International Lt.Gen. John Conaway, USAF (Ret) Quesada Foundation Air Power History (ISSN 1044-016X) Gen. Bennie L. Davis, USAF (Ret) Gen. Bernard A. Schriever is produced in March, June, September, Brig.Gen. Michael DeArmond, USAF (Ret) and December by the Air Force Historical Gen. Robert J. Dixon, USAF (Ret) Foundation. Gen. Michael J. Dugan, USAF (Ret) Supporters Gen. Howell M. Estes, Jr., USAF (Ret) The Aerospace Corporation Prospective contributors should consult the Lt.Gen. Abbott C. Greenleaf, USAF (Ret) Allied-Signal Aerospace Corporation Mr. John E. Greenwood Arthur Metcalf Foundation GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS at Brig.Gen. Brian S. Gunderson, USAF (Ret) CSX Corporation the back of this journal. Unsolicited manu- Maj.Gen. John P. Henebry, USAF (Ret) Brig. Gen. Brian S. Gunderson scripts will be returned only on specific Col. George A. Henry, Jr., USAF (Ret) Maj. Gen. John P. Henebry request. The Editor cannot accept responsi- Gen. Robert T. Herres, USAF (Ret) Gen. & Mrs. Robert T. Herres bility for any damage to or loss of the man- Dr. I. B. Holley, Jr. Maj. Gen. Harold E. Humfeld uscript. The Editor reserves the right to Maj.Gen. Jeanne M. Holm, USAF (Ret) McDonnell Douglas Foundation edit manuscripts and letters. Lt.Gen. Bradley C. Hosmer, USAF (Ret) Maj. Gen. Kenneth P. Miles Dr. R. Gordon Hoxie Northrop-Grumman Corporation Address Letters to the Editor to: Brig.Gen. Alfred F. Hurley, USAF (Ret) Mr. William O’Rourke Air Power History Brig.Gen. James A. Jaeger, USAF (Ret) Mr. James Parton P.O. Box 10328 Gen. David C. Jones, USAF (Ret) Mr. George Pendelton Rockville, MD 20849-0328 Maj. John Kreis, USAF (Ret) Gen. Bryce Poe II e-mail: [email protected] Lt.Col. Kathy La Sauce, USAF (Ret) Pratt & Whitney Maj.Gen. Charles D. Link, USAF (Ret) Gen. D. C. Strother Correspondence regarding missed issues Lt.Col. Donald S. Lopez, USAF (Ret) United Technologies Hon. Hans Mark Capt. William C. Ward or changes of address should be addressed CMSgt Norman A. Marous, USAF Maj. Gen. Richard A. Yudkin to the Circulation Office: Hon. John L. McLucas Air Power History Col. Kenneth Moll, USAF (Ret) P.O. Box 151150 Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr., USAF(Ret) Alexandria, Virginia 22315 Col. Helen E. O’Day, USAF (Ret) Annual Contributing Members Telephone: (703) 923-0848 Hon. Verne Orr ANSER Fax: (703) 923-0848 CMSgtAF Sam E. Parish, USAF (Ret) ARX, Inc. Maj.Gen. John S. Patton, USAF (Ret) ASTECH/MCI Manufacturing, Inc. e-mail: [email protected] Gen. Bryce Poe II, USAF (Ret) Beech Aircraft Corporation Maj.Gen. Ramsay D. Potts, USAF (Ret) Boeing Defense & Space Group Advertising Brig.Gen. Edward W. Rosenbaum, USAF (Ret) General Electric Company Mark Mandeles Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Ret) Instrument Systems Corp. 8910 Autumn Leaf Ct. Gen. John A. Shaud, USAF (Ret) Litton Industries Fairfax, VA 22301 Gen. Jacob E. Smart, USAF (Ret) Lockheed Martin Corp. (703) 426-5147; fax 426-5149 Gen. William Y. Smith, USAF (Ret) The Mitre Corporation e-mail: [email protected] Dr. George K. Tanham Northrop Corporation Col. Robert E. Vickers, Jr., USAF (Ret) Vinell Corporation Copyright © 2000 by the Air Force MSgt. Charles J. Warth, USAF (Ret) Historical Foundation. All rights reserved. Col. George R. Weinbrenner, USAF (Ret) Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, VA Col. Sherman W. Wilkins, USAF (Ret) 24450 and additional mailing offices. Maj.Gen. Richard A. Yudkin, USAF (Ret) Postmaster: Please send change of address to the Circulation Office. FOUNDATION WEB HOMEPAGE: http://home.earthlink.net/~afhf E-Mail: [email protected] 2 AIR POWER History / WINTER 2000 From the Editor This issue’s lead article, A “Pretty Damn Able Commander,” by Roger G. Miller, a frequent con- tributor to Air Power History, fleshes out the life of Lewis H. Brereton, one of our most colorful and controversial air commanders in World War II. Using previously overlooked sources, Dr. Miller resuscitates the memory of this nearly forgotten officer. This is part I of a two-part series, to be continued in the Spring of 2001. In “Navy Buys Computer, Discovers Reliability: A Personal Account,” Dr. John Coutinho relates how the U.S. Navy adopted the new discipline of reliability engineering. His article demonstrates how the Navy’s leadership managed to persuade all involved, including the aero- space industry and government bureaucracy, that reliability engineering extended the power of design control and was not just another passing fad. Viktor P. Kulikov, a Russian air power enthusiast, uses recently released archival materials to evaluate the performance of Igor Sikorsky’s fighter plane designs during World War I and their demise in the 1920s. Future issues of Air Power History will feature Mr. Kulikov’s accounts of Vlademir Lebedev, Russian ship-based aircraft, and British aircraft in Russia. World War II veterans, Ralph H. Saltsman and Robert L. Ferguson, Jr. describe what it was like on two days at Guadalcanal — September 14 and November 11, 1942. They recount the hero- ic exploits of the 67th Fighter Squadron “Fighting Cocks” at Bloody Ridge and afterward. Brig. Gen. Brian S. Gunderson, USAF (Ret.), another World War II veteran and a major con- tributor to the Air Force Historical Foundation’s and Air Power History’s success, launches the first installment of his dictionary of wartime slang terms, which he calls “Slanguage.” While there are only a handful of book reviews in this issue—our lowest number in years— the books received list is bulging. Book review editor, Michael Grumelli, is actively soliciting new reviewers. If you feel qualified to review one or more of the books listed—in this or prior issues, or have an appropriate book that was not listed—please contact Dr. Grumelli. See page 64. The departments section includes the usual categories of “The History Mystery,” letters, news, notices, and reunions. If you would like to express your views or advise readers of some upcom- ing event, please write or e-mail the editors. See pages 2, 64, 68, and 70. Also, notice our new advertising address on page 2. As a token of gratitude to our anonymous reviewers, we list their names on page 75. Gen. W. Y. Smith, USAF (Ret.), president of the Air Force Historical Foundation, reports on the Foundation’s extremely active year and plans for a busy 2001. His report appears on page . On behalf of the entire staff of Air Power History, I wish all of our readers happy holidays, health, and good fortune. The submission of an article, book review, or other communication with the intention that it be pub- lished in this journal shall be construed as prima facie evidence that the contributor willingly trans- fers the copyright to Air Power History and the Air Force Historical Foundation, which will, however, freely grant authors the right to reprint their own works, if published in the authors’ own works. In the case of articles, upon acceptance, the author will be sent an agreement and an assignment of copy- right. Disclaimer Air Power History and the Air Force Historical Foundation disclaim responsibility for statements, either of fact or of opinion, made by contributors. AIR POWER History / WINTER 2000 3 A“PrettyDamn AbleCommander” LewisHyde Brereton: PartI 4 AIR POWER History / WINTER 2000 Roger G.