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From All In One Lifetime by James F. Byrnes, 1958
�. . . I had persuaded the distinguished naval architect, William Francis Gibbs, who is known s the designer not only of some of our finest combat ships but of our largest and most luxurious liner, the United States, to represent [Office of War Mobilization] OWM on the naval procurement review board.� (p187)
President Roosevelt and the United States Chiefs of Staff were also absorbed in the question of who would command the Normandy operation and whether there should be appointed a Supreme Commander over all the allied forces against Germany, both in the Mediterranean and northern European areas. Some of these preoccupations are reflected in the President�s letter of November 23, 1943, written after the preliminary meeting at Cairo. (See following page [repro].}
On the same day this letter was written I received the following secret message from the chief Executive through the White House Map Room and communications center:
Extremely important and urgent that I know at once whether the present schedules for production and completion of landing craft can be increased during January, February, Marcy, April and May. On the assumption that landing craft takes precedence over all other munitions of war, will you let me know how many additional landing craft by types can be delivered during the months of January, February, March, April and May. List each month separately. Call conference of all interested departments. Very urgent.
>Signed ROOSEVELT
I immediately got in touch with our own specialists, and before long William Francis Gibbs and Franz Schneider, together with Fred Searls, were assembled in my office. After a brief planning session they got busy with the several officials in charge of ship construction, working into the night so that the required information could be assembled. The next morning I held a conference of the �interested parties� in the Cabinet Room and that day, with their help and that of our specialists, I was able to give the President the Bureau of Ships� detailed predictions of deliveries of the six principal types of landing craft in six months� time.
My cablegram was lengthy but specific and the figures were based, as I indicated, on the assumption that landing craft production would take precedence over all other munitions
New York : Harper & Brothers, 1958, pages 320 - 325.
http://www.gibbscox.com/history.htm
The firm was founded by William Francis Gibbs, his brother Frederick H. Gibbs and Daniel Cox, a noted yacht designer. William Francis Gibbs was the inspirational leader of the firm from its inception until his death in 1967. Mr. Gibbs was a lawyer by education but a ship designer by avocation. Prior to forming Gibbs & Cox, Inc., Mr. Gibbs had extensive experience in ship building. During World War I he was the Assistant to the Chairman of the Shipping Control Committee.
The firm designed a number of ocean liners, including its signature ship the SS UNITED STATES. The SS UNITED STATES was the largest merchant ship in the U.S. Fleet when completed in 1952. It established the transatlantic speed record, averaging 35.6 knots in its crossing, winning the Hales Trophy and coveted Blue Riband for the fastest crossing. It was designed to be an exceptionally safe ship, and in time of war could be converted to a troopship for 15,000 troops. The ship remained in operation until 1969.
http://www.ss-united-states.net/WebPages/PagesGibbs.htm
http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.familycrest_details/s.Gibbs/Gibbs_family_Crest/Gibbs_coat_of_arms/qx/Gibbs.htm
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