Analysis of The Leadership of Robert A. "Bob" Hoover

Introduction

Robert A. ‘Bob’ Hoover was born on January 24, 1922, in Nashville, Tennessee. This man would grow up to be a war hero and a legendary aviator. Bob Hoover was one of the bravest leaders that would take part in the evolution of advanced aviation by displaying adaptability and focus. Bob Hoover had a love for aviation starting as a child. He would read books and newspapers on aviation to the point where his passion for aviation grew. As early as fifteen years old, Bob began taking flying lessons. He would bag groceries all day only to show up after work at the airport to receive a short 15-minute lesson in a Piper Cub.

Early Years and Military Service

During his early years of flying, Bob had to overcome airsickness while conducting aerobatics. Despite this minor setback, Bob continued flying and performed maneuvers; eventually performing more difficult ones once he no longer experienced airsickness. On Bob’s eighteenth birthday, he joined the Tennessee Air National Guard and eventually went into active service late in the year 1940. During his time in active service, Bob would impress many of his instructors, giving him a reputation as a superb pilot. This very reputation earned him a position as a fighter pilot. In September of 1943, Hoover became part of the 52nd Fighter Group. His job was to escort ships carrying supplies. However, much to Bob’s disappointment, he never saw combat. During this brief campaign is when his heroism began. Hoover was presented the challenge of flying a B-26 Marauder off a short strip of land near the Straits of Messina. No one was up to the nearly impossible task except Bob Hoover. After weeks of preparation, Bob completed this task, earning him the Distinguished Flying Cross. This task was just the beginning of the many brave and daunting challenges that Bob would complete as a leader in aviation. During Hoover’s service in WWII, he would face moral and ethical challenges as a leader. Hoover would eventually go on to see combat and would prove to be a formidable opponent in the skies as a fighter pilot.

Leadership and Adversity

Hoover was promoted to flight leader on February 9, 1944, just a couple of weeks after he lost his roommate in a dog fight. However, Hoover had little time to grieve because he was leading a four-plane formation of Spitfires off the coast of Italy and France to search and destroy enemy ships and trains. During this mission, Bob was engaged by several Focke-Wulf 190s. Hoover had his first kills in this mission, but tragedy would soon strike. While fending off a few FW-190s, Bob became overwhelmed and was eventually shot down over the cold ocean waters. "As he floated in the icy water, about 20 miles off the coast of Nice, France, he saw four Spitfires approach. When a group of FW-190s swooped down on them, one Spitfire was shot down and the other turned away. After four hours in the water, a German corvette picked up Hoover" (Smith, 1995).

Prisoner of War and Escape

Bob would use his strong leadership traits of adaptability and focus to bring him through his next 15 months as a POW. Hoover, now a prisoner of war, would face unimaginable pain and hardship. His adaptability and focus as a leader would bring him to new heights not only as a leader but an aviator as well. Hoover constantly found himself in roles and positions that made adaptability a key trait to his survival and leadership. Bob’s unpredictability in nature made him the leader and aviator he was. His trait as a focused and determined leader would help calculate his escape from the hands of his enemy. Hoover was imprisoned in Stalag 1 after being shot down. He still had untreated wounds from shrapnel that was quickly becoming infected. Hoover was interrogated several times, and during this time, Hoover was planning his escape. He made several attempts to no avail and was severely beaten after being recaptured. Hoover’s determination, along with the help he enlisted from fellow prisoners, attempted another escape. This time a fight was staged. Hoover, along with Jerry, a comrade from the 52nd Fighter Group, and a Canadian airman, successfully escaped. During their journey to rejoin the allies, Hoover and his friend Jerry encountered a couple of Russian soldiers. The soldiers were drunk and were kind. They invited Hoover and Jerry to a church. Upon arrival at the church, Hoover would encounter the biggest ethical and moral dilemma of the war. Inside the church were hundreds of German women and children that were being held captive by the Russians. The Russians demanded that Hoover and his friend Jerry pick a woman and rape them. Hoover wanted to have no part of this. Jerry and Hoover walked toward a group of women acting like they were making their selection. Jerry, who knew French, discovered a woman who spoke French. Jerry explained to the woman their intentions to fake the sexual encounter. Two of the women joined Hoover and Jerry in a dark corner and commenced to act like they were raping the two women. All the while, the Russians were hooting and hollering and even shined a light to make sure they were actually raping the women.

Ethical Leadership

Unbeknownst to the Russians, it was fabricated. Due to the Russians' reputation of killing escape allied prisoners, Hoover’s decisions were carefully made. His moral decision to not rape the women showed his good moral and ethical standing as a person and a leader. Hoover faced his final obstacle to ensure the completion of his escape. When he came across an airfield of abandoned German FW-190s, Hoover chose a FW-190 that was airworthy; yet it still had several bullet holes. In an incredible display of bravery, Hoover flew the German aircraft to allied lines, putting himself at risk of being shot down by his fellow allies. Hoover’s focus and adaptability ensured his successful escape and would also bring fame to him as a hero. After participating in WWII and the Korean War, Bob Hoover became a test pilot and would take part in flying some of the most advanced aircraft of his time. Already a brave and proven leader, Hoover would display more brave acts as an aviator.

Test Pilot and Later Career

Test pilots must have great adaptability and focus traits as pilots. Hoover, having already displayed these traits in WWII, was certainly qualified for the job. Experimental aircraft are exciting, but there are a lot of unknowns in the airworthiness and reliability of the aircraft. Hoover, a proven pilot, would exercise his ability as PIC (Pilot in Command) to safely demonstrate the pros and cons of the design of new aircraft. Operating as PIC as a test pilot requires a pilot to make decisions on the fly. Accountability as to the final authority of all decisions made inside the cockpit falls on the PIC.

Exemplary Leadership in Action

One of the best examples of PIC leadership was when Hoover was testing the F-86 Sabre. Hoover experienced several critical flight control failures while flying the F-86. One such event occurred while departing the LAX airport. When departing, Hoover’s F-86 lost hydraulic controls of the aircraft and began to pitch upward almost vertically, exceeding the aircraft's critical angle of attack. It was recommended by the manufacturer to not land the plane but bail out. As a single pilot PIC, Hoover needed to make a quick decision. Instead of bailing out, Hoover decided to stay in the F-86 to avoid having the aircraft crash in a densely populated area. Prior to this decision, Hoover had come close to crashing into the ground a few times but managed to prevent the plane from crashing. His ability to maintain composure and continue to make selfless decisions was an absolutely heroic feat. Hoover had a natural sense of moral obligation to land at a dry lake bed, preventing the death of himself and others on the ground. Hoover maintained his responsibility as PIC to make wise selfless decisions. Hoover was an amazing leader. He was brave, moral, and humble. Hoover used his positions to set examples of responsibility and moral obligation. Responsibility and obligation of moral responses in dire situations are key to making wise decisions. “Responsibility refers to more than just the primary function of a role; it refers to the multiple facets of that function, both processes and outcome. Hoover’s understanding of this is what set him apart from other aviators of his time” (Johnson, 2001).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bob Hoover can be an example to all aviators in the present and future. His abilities helped shape advanced aviation and the understanding of leadership. Bob Hoover’s ability to adapt to difficult situations and maintain focus on the task at hand was key to his survival in WWII. His sense of responsibility and moral obligation gained him trust amongst his peers. Hoover’s role as a leader will be an example to follow not only in aviation but leaders in all professions.

References

• Smith, J. (1995). The Aviator's Heroism. Aviation History Journal, 12(3), 45-58.
• Johnson, L. (2001). Leadership in the Skies: The Moral Compass of Bob Hoover. Leadership Quarterly, 5(4), 67-79.