David McCampbell and Alex Vraciu

[dango]

Why didn't David McCampbell make flag rank? And why didn't Alex Vraciu not get beyond Commander? It seems to me both spent a long time as Captain and Commander respectively despite their excellent service accomplishments.

[JOMiller]

Both were rugged individuals who did things "their own way". Neither were universally
popular. "Their way" was tolerated during wartime, as they were producing results.
They were both "warriors". In peacetime, the paper pushers take over. Another good
question is why Vraciu's MoH was derailed.

[sandiego89]

There have been others that seemingly based on war time records would have made it to higher places. Mavericks such as Robin Olds and Colonel Boyd plateaued out as they did not toe the company line very well. Randy Cunningham from his Vietnam Ace status would have seemed like a shoe-in for high rank for PR purposes, but it sounds like Navy promotion and assignment boards got that one correct. I do not know enough to comment on these two aces like JoMiller does, but war record does not automatically equate to high post war rank.

[JohnB]

Rather than blame "the system" or bureaucracy, consider that some pilots simply don't want flag rank. A lot of the military pilots I knew joined the services to fly and didn't have any interest in being a high level administrator.

Meanwhile, some less-capable flyers excelled in the paperwork.

A SAC wing commander once told me (in a seldom seem moment of personal reflection)...
"The Air Force making a great pilot a general based solely on his flying ability would be like Bekins Moving company making its best truck driver president."

[Randy Haskin]

Rather than blame "the system" or bureaucracy, consider that some pilots simply don't want flag rank. A lot of the military pilots I knew joined the services to fly and didn't have any interest in being a high level administrator.

Meanwhile, some less-capable flyers excelled in the paperwork.

A SAC wing commander once told me (in a seldom seem moment of personal reflection)...
"The Air Force making a great pilot a general based solely on his flying ability would be like Bekins Moving company making its best truck driver president."

I saw that often the two things worked in symmetry; those who didn't have the "talent" (using the term with just a bit of sarcasm) to successfully maneuver through the paper-pusher bureaucracy to the flag ranks also generally didn't have the desire to go there. Often that lack of desire was rooted in having seen what the real world was like as they rose through the ranks and becoming disillusioned with what they found there.

Regarding the "truck driver" comment, it ignores that by the time a pilot is in a position to be a General, they've already held several key leadership positions at the tactical and operational level (e.g. flight leads, flight commanders, squadron commanders, group commanders, wing commanders, etc) and likely proved their mettle in leadership and management in those jobs.

[JohnB]

About the "truck driver" comment, please note who said it.
A SAC wing commander in the Cold War certainly earned the right to his comment. Of course he, and I, appreciate the fact that someone who is destined for stars has worked hard and followed an established path to get there. His comment certainly expressed the USAF attitude that it takes more than being pilot to command a unit in the modern military.

If you haven't done so, I recommend reading some of the General officer bios online. You'll note a lot of PME, post graduate schooling and some variety of assignments. Those experiences, and having innate leadership skills AND flying ability are needed. One of my friends in my last assignment was B-1 squadron deputy commander, who became the squadron comander...so he was better than average pilot. Last I heard he was the B-2 wing commander. When you're responsible for a high profile unit like that, where the aircraft are valued on the books at billions...they're looking for more than just a hot pilot to run the outfit.
I knew a lot of pilots who had no interest in higher level jobs. They were happy to make lieutenant colonel, and at that level be a squadron ops officer or maybe a wing flying job in safety, Stan-eval or some such, as soon as they hit 20, put in their papers and get a job flying for UPS.

As to your first point, in my experience, the cynical attitude you describe is usually seen by guys not having the ability for high command who then rationalise it in the way you describe...."It was all BS , so I didn't want to pursue it".
The serious pros realize the reality and existence of some politics in the military bureaucracy (as there s in any job outside of freelance fur trader)....and maturely deal with it.
That attitude is rather like the occasional gripe filed NCO you'd run across who'd rant at Officers by saying..." I could have been an officer...but I didn't want to deal with the BS." Yeah, right,...That and you didn't have the education, training, temperament, etc, etc...

[dango]

Hmmm......McCampbell seemed to be pretty career oriented as he was given command of the oiler USS Severn and the carrier Bonnie Dick. He also had several staff jobs and what would appear to be not much flying. In other words, it looked to me like he was getting his ticket punched going to command and staff school, instructing, advising the Argentinian navy and taking a black shoe command before the bigger and more specialized responsibility of commanding an aircraft carrier. This is why I'm mystified why he never made flag rank.

[CoastieJohn]

Another good question is why Vraciu's MoH was derailed.

Did he have the most kills in the "Turkey Shoot"? I looked around and did not locate info regarding any higher totals that day or all days combined. Maybe someone knows that answer?

There could be a few reasons. Maybe a higher total kill pilot was there? Maybe because it was against inexperienced enemy pilots? Maybe the Navy did not want to set a precedent?

[michaelharadon]

From what I've read, Randy Cunningham shot himself down with his ego and his relationship with alcohol.

[JohnB]

Coincidentally, I was just reading an unrelated book and mention was made the Thatch, of "Thatch weave" fame, ended up as an admiral.