L314 Spring 2024 MacArthur's Big Mistake and WWII

L314  MacArthur's Big Mistake and WWII
Thursday, 9:40—11:05, May 9
One session
Instructors: Raoul Drapeau, Tracy Winslow
This lecture describes a secret and dangerous plan devised by General Douglas MacArthur during the middle of the Korean War in April, 1951. It included moving a large naval task force with aircraft carriers from the east coast of Korea to a position just off the southern coast of China, far away from the Korean conflict.  Much later, research showed that MacArthur's intention was to provoke the Chinese to attack one ship, the John A. Bole (DD755) as part of his desire to rid China of the Communists. Had their armed junks surrounding the Bole in Swatow harbor attacked it, the ensuing conflict could quickly have expanded into WWIII.
Raoul Drapeau is a retired high-tech entrepreneur with an interdisciplinary background in teaching, lecturing, high-technology, and history. He has had important accomplishments in image processing and data communications. He holds electrical engineering degrees from Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Tracy Winslow was the engineering officer on the USS Bole during this event.