Andrew Jackson Higgins: “The Man Who Won the War For Us”

General Dwight D. Eisenhower famously remarked that Andrew Higgins was “the man who won the war for us.” He credited Higgins’ invention of the Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP) for the success of the Allies on D-Day.

In a 1964 conversation with historian Stephen E. Ambrose, Eisenhower emphasized, “If Andy Higgins had not designed and built those landing craft, we never could have gone in over an open beach. The whole strategy of the war would have been changed.”*

The LCVP, commonly known as the Higgins Boat, featured a ramp that allowed troops, equipment, and vehicles to disembark directly onto beaches. This innovation meant that forces did not need to capture a port to land effectively, enabling Allied troops to invade Northern Europe without needing to secure French or Belgian ports first.

Before Higgins Boats, invaders had to capture ports to land essential equipment like tanks and artillery. The absence of these boats would have left infantry vulnerable, unable to bring vehicles and artillery ashore.

Moreover, enemy forces could disrupt invasions by damaging docks and other port facilities. In 1944, for example, the Germans hindered the Allied advance in Northwest Europe by destroying many French and Belgian ports.

Eisenhower believed that Higgins Boats made the crucial D-Day landings possible, allowing enough troops to secure the beaches. They also facilitated the landing of supplies, heavy weaponry, and the evacuation of wounded soldiers.

During the war, Higgins Industries manufactured 12,500 LCVPs and an additional 20,000 boats, including Landing Craft Tanks and Personnel. These larger vessels enabled the deployment of tanks, trucks, and artillery directly onto beaches.

Higgins Boats were instrumental in the successful island-hopping campaigns in the Pacific. They allowed the US Navy to land sufficient troops quickly, overpowering Japanese forces. Even during the Korean War, Higgins Boats enabled the Inchon Landing, a pivotal moment that helped save South Korea.

Interestingly, Higgins started with a modest boatyard in New Orleans in 1938, employing just 75 people. By 1945, his workforce had grown to over 25,000. At the time of his passing in 1952, he held 30 patents.

R. J. Mitchell: The Visionary Behind the Spitfire

18. 10. Mitchell, the creator of one of World War II’s most iconic aircraft, tragically passed away nearly two years before Britain entered the war, succumbing to cancer on June 11, 1937.

Mitchell was a prolific aircraft designer, having created over 24 planes between 1920 and 1937, including fighters, flying boats, and bombers.

Ironically, Mitchell began his career in locomotive engineering but joined the aircraft manufacturer Supermarine in 1917. By 1920, he was the Chief Designer at Supermarine, which was then focused on building flying boats for the Royal Navy.

In 1928, the armaments company Vickers Ltd. acquired Supermarine, placing Mitchell at the center of Britain's military industrial sector. He subsequently designed prominent flying boats, such as the Southampton and Stranraer.

In 1930, he introduced a new fighter for the Royal Air Force (RAF) known as the Type 224, which served as a prototype for subsequent WWII fighter aircraft. This monoplane featured a metal body and unique wing design reminiscent of the Spitfire.

Though the RAF initially rejected the Type 224, Mitchell proceeded to develop a new model, the Type 300. This innovative design utilized an all-metal body without bracing struts, allowing for additional armament and fuel storage.

The Type 300 eventually evolved into the Spitfire, which was developed by Vickers without direct government funding, although the RAF showed interest. The design was initially referred to as a “high-speed technology demonstrator” to justify its development.

Upon witnessing the Type 300, RAF commanders supported its evolution into a frontline fighter, prompting the Air Ministry to fund a prototype.

On March 5, 1936, the first Spitfire took to the skies in Southampton. Its impressive performance led the RAF to order 310 units even before testing was concluded. The Spitfire entered service with the RAF's 19 Squadron in August 1938.

During the Battle of Britain in 1940, RAF Spitfires accounted for the downing of 529 enemy aircraft. While the Hawker Hurricane ultimately shot down more German planes, the Spitfire is credited with playing a crucial role in securing British air superiority.

The Spitfire emerged as the most successful fighter aircraft of the war, with estimates suggesting it shot down 6,338 enemy planes. The North American P51 Mustang, a derivative of the Spitfire, was the second most successful Allied fighter, claiming 5,784 enemy aircraft.

Many British pilots achieved remarkable success while flying Spitfires, including Jimmy Johnson, the most successful Allied ace, who downed 38 enemy planes.

Spitfires were instrumental in clearing the skies over France, ensuring that Allied forces could land without the threat of air attacks on D-Day in 1944. They continued to dominate the airspace over Germany, facilitating the Allied and Soviet forces’ advance into the heart of the Third Reich.

Sadly, Mitchell never witnessed the victory that his invention helped to secure. He passed away on June 11, 1937, with Supermarine’s Chief Draughtsman, Joe Smith, finalizing the Spitfire’s designs.

During the war, Mitchell became a celebrated figure in Britain, with actor-director Leslie Howard even creating a heavily fictionalized film about his life titled Spitfire in the British Empire and First of the Few in the United States.

The American Father of the T-34: J. Walter Christie

Interestingly, J. Walter Christie, an American inventor, developed the design that would lead to the Soviet Union's legendary T-34 tank.

Christie was an inventor and engineer who made a name for himself in the automotive industry as an early race car driver. In fact, he was the first American to compete in the French Grand Prix in 1907. After leaving the racing scene, he continued to innovate in car design, setting a record in 1909 with the Christie Racer, the first vehicle to exceed 102 miles per hour at the Indianapolis Speedway.

After retiring from racing, Christie built one of the first front-wheel drive cars for use as a New York taxicab, showcasing his forward-thinking design concepts.

In 1912, he turned his attention to tractors, creating a front-wheel drive model that could pull steam-powered fire pumps, enabling fire departments to operate more efficiently without relying on horses.

By 1924, Christie had developed one of the earliest amphibious tanks, which the US Marine Corps tested but ultimately did not purchase. His passion for tank design led him to formulate a theory of armored warfare that prioritized speed and agility, anticipating the German Blitzkrieg tactics that would allow Hitler to swiftly conquer France in 1940.

To bring his theories to fruition, Christie worked on a faster, lighter prototype tank called the Model 1928 for the US Army. He prophetically dubbed it the “Model 1940,” believing it was a decade ahead of its time. This model featured sloped armor to deflect projectiles and a novel helicoil suspension system.

The US Army did acquire several Christie prototypes and patents but did not purchase the tank itself. Following this setback, Christie sought to market his technology to the Soviet, Polish, and British governments.

Soviet generals discovered Christie’s innovations through espionage, leading them to order tanks based on his designs. In 1930, Christie's company sold two M1931 tanks to AMTORG, a Soviet front organization, for $60,000, granting the Soviet Union the rights to build and sell Christie tanks for ten years.

Soviet designers adapted Christie’s technology for their BT series of tanks, which ultimately served as the foundation for the T-34, the most successful tank of World War II. Between 1940 and 1958, factories in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe produced 84,000 T-34s, with 57,000 manufactured during the war years. Some T-34s remain operational today.

The British War Office acquired one Christie tank prototype for £8,000, but ironically, the US Customs Service barred its export due to its classification as “war material.” Christie ingeniously disassembled the tank and shipped it to Britain in crates labeled “grapefruit.” This design later informed the British Cruiser MK III, or A13 Mark tank, which saw action in World War II.

While the US Army adopted only one Christie tank design, the M1931, it remained in service for a brief period from 1932 to 1936. Christie continued to propose tank designs to the Army until his death in 1944, but they were consistently rejected.

In conclusion, the contributions of inventors were vital to the Allied victory in World War II, yet many of them remain unrecognized for their invaluable efforts.

• See To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian by Stephen E. Ambrose, page 201 for Eisenhower’s quote.