Bomber Captains were recruited from all walks of life: architects and laborers; educators and college men; newspaper writers and professional athletes. The commander’s job was a relatively straight forward one: take off and land the machine and maintain the health and well being of the entire crew; supervise mission planning, preparation, file the flight plan, and brief the crew; ensure aircraft is inspected, loaded, equipped, and manned for mission; conduct continuous training of crew-members, master, and ensure operational readiness. And all it required was intelligence, determination, and nerves of steel.