Phil Cochran and John Alison: Images of Apollo's Warriors.

摘要

This study attempts to determine those World War II unconventional warfare leadership attributes that might help us in selecting today's special operations leaders. In doing so, the author first develops a template of special operations leadership qualities by starting with those attributes required of any leader whether in charge of a Cub Scout pack or an international corporation. Next, he adjusts the list based on the unique requirements of military leadership. Finally, he tunes the list to take into account the differences between general military and special operations leadership based on interviews, correspondence with, and transcripts from oral history interviews with Air Force special operations leaders both officers and enlisted men alike. Next, he describes the backgrounds and influencing factors of Philip G, Cochran and John R, Alison two men who would become the first commander and deputy of the 1st Air Commando Group in WWII. Following this he tells how these two men built their unit and led the first aerial invasion force. Using these biographical sketches and historical case study, the author shows that Cochran and Alison fit nicely into the proposed template. Finally, he describes briefly how this template might be used by the Air Force special operations community.