What did General Roger Ramey’s desk in Fort Worth actually look like?
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. “Brig. Gen. Roger M. Ramey and staff put up new 8th Air Force Headquarters sign at Carswell Air Force Base.” UTA Libraries Digital Gallery. 1946. Accessed December 16, 2024 . https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/30001436
This is a question that some people might have wondered about. After all, this desk played a small role during the famous press conference on the afternoon of July 8, 1947. The press conference in which Roger Ramey informed the media that the debris from Roswell was from a weather balloon. It took place in Roger Ramey’s office.
But let’s start from the very beginning. How did Roger Ramey come to own his desk and, most importantly, his large office?
This photo from November 18, 1946, shows Roger Ramey and Major General Clements McMullen, who was the Commanding General of the 8th Air Force for a relatively short time. At that time, the office still belonged to McMullen. However, this would change very soon:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Brigadier General Roger M. Ramey and Major General Clements McMullen. (1946). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/20067187
On December 5, 1946, Roger Ramey was already aware that he would soon take command of the 8th Air Force. However, at that time, the office still belonged to Clements McMullen, who remained in command. Roger Ramey continued to serve as Chief of Staff of the 8th Air Force:
Original image part of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.
Identifier: AR406-6-1900
Photo from February 25, 1947: Roger Ramey sits visibly pleased in his new office. McMullen was then appointed Deputy Commander of the Strategic Air Command with headquarters at Andrews Field, Maryland, in January 1947. Roger Ramey subsequently assumed command of the 8th Air Force and inherited the large office.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Brigadier General Roger M. Ramey, commanding general of the 8th Air Force at the Fort Worth Army Air Field. (1947). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/20064043
The photo above shows Ramey at his desk on February 25, 1947. A few weeks earlier, General Ramey was still Chief of Staff of the Eighth, and in January 1947, he assumed command of the Eighth.
It was a large, relatively luxurious office, which was approximately 5 by 6 meters in size. The room was therefore 30 square meters in size.
What is not entirely clear now is when the desk was replaced. It is possible that the same desk seen above was still present during the press conference. However, it is more likely that Ramey already had the new desk in the office, as the carpet had also been replaced within the two months leading up to the press conference.
Photo from April 10, 1947:
No desk visible. But here, you can still see the old carpet from McMullen’s time. This was replaced before the press conference in July 1947.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Amon Carter with military officers. (1947). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/20085068
Press conference on July 8, 1947:
At the press conference, a new carpet was already visible. To protect it from the small debris, a tarp was laid out before the press conference.
This is supported by a statement from Thomas Jefferson DuBose:
I wouldn’t swear that it was placed there—but I believe it was placed there to prevent things from messing up the carpet.
Despite our thorough research, we could not determine why, on the day of the press conference, two windows were adorned with different curtains. One possibility is that Ramey’s office always had two windows on one side of the room with a different type of curtain. This seems most likely, as all the other windows have consistently had the same type of curtain over the years. It is also conceivable that, at that specific time, the curtains were being cleaned, and temporary replacements covered the windows while the originals were at a laundry. Since Roger Ramey was known for wanting everything to be perfect, it’s plausible the curtains were temporarily swapped specifically for the press conference. After all, the local press was invited, and the curtains might not have been pristine. A good impression was essential, especially with photos being taken. Uniforms and pictures on the walls were always carefully selected, depending on the type of visitor expected.
James Bond Johnson, a photographer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (newspaper), was the first reporter to arrive at the press conference.
In his photos from that day, Ramey’s desk is not visible. Of course, the desk only played a minor role. However, in two specific aspects, it can be said to have taken center stage.
Point 1 concerns placing his bags down after arriving in Roger Ramey’s office:
James Bond Johnson walked around the office and set his camera bag down next to the desk. He briefly looked at the debris on the floor and placed his flat leather case, containing the glass plates for his camera, on one of the chairs by the wall near the window. This was likely because placing bags on someone else’s desk in an unfamiliar office would be considered inappropriate.
Point 2 concerns the so-called Ramey Memo and its origin. James Bond Johnson recalled several versions of the story, including one in which the desk plays a role:
Before Johnson took the photos, Roger Ramey either picked up or was handed a note—the famous Ramey Memo. The origins of this memo will not be detailed here, as they are analyzed more thoroughly in other articles. Several possibilities exist regarding its source. Johnson himself changed his account multiple times, as he was unsure after so many years.
Johnson provided several explanations. At one point, he stated that the memo was a telegram printout from the AP wire, which he had brought with him and handed directly to Ramey before taking the photos. According to this version, Ramey read the memo with interest. If true, this would mean the memo was not of military origin but had come through news channels.
Later, Johnson claimed it was not a memo he brought but rather a document already on Ramey’s desk. Before photographing him, Johnson handed the document to Ramey to help him pose better. If this version is accurate, the memo in the photos would indeed be a military document. Another possibility is that Ramey already had the memo in his hand when he entered the room.
It’s also worth noting how James Bond Johnson initially suggested the memo was a newsroom printout. This might stem from the common practice of journalists taking newsprint with them from the newsroom for reference during field research. That could very well have been the case here. Johnson may have indeed brought the printout he first described, though this doesn’t necessarily mean the memo visible in the photos was that same document.
July, 1947: Brig. Gen. Roger Ramey. Attribution to: “Courtesy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Photograph Collection, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library, Arlington, Texas.”
There are only a few photos showing Roger Ramey in his office. After extensive research and verification, we managed to find some. Some from end of 1946. Some of 1947. Other photos are from 1949, taken two years after the Roswell press conference. During this time, the curtains and carpet were changed. However, Ramey continued working in the same office until mid-1950, when he was promoted. In 1950, he was appointed Director of Operations at Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C.
To ensure that the desk parts visible in the photos were indeed the same desk, that the location was in Fort Worth, and that it was Roger Ramey’s office, we had to verify and consider several factors.
This included the layout of the room, the curtains, the alignment of the ceiling lighting, and, of course, the desk itself.
The Left and the Right Side of the Desk (194?-1949)
Thus, we can also confirm that the two parts of the desk are indeed the same. Ramey’s desk is not fully visible in any of the photos. At that time, the purpose of photographs was not to show a general’s documents or desk. After all, taking photos back then was labor-intensive and very expensive.
The desk was made of wood and featured a glass plate on the surface.
It is certain that Ramey also owned a typewriter. He frequently wrote personally to the Star-Telegram to express gratitude for various reports and also corresponded with many others. Several of these letters are publicly accessible. The typewriter itself is not visible on the desk. It was therefore very likely stored in one of the desk drawers. Additionally, there was undoubtedly a telephone in the office, likely on a part of the desk that is not visible in the photos, or possibly in the background.
There were also numerous model airplanes, fitting for the Air Force, displayed on the desk.
A book titled ‘AIR FORCE LEADERSHIP AFM 35-15‘ from 1948 is also placed prominently on the desk.
This book, by the way, can be accessed for free on Google Books, where it has been digitized:
>>>AIR FORCE LEADERSHIP AFM 35-15<<<
The Air Force Manual AFM 35-15 from 1948 was likely a resource primarily intended for officers and those in leadership roles within the U.S. Air Force. These types of manuals often served as guides for policy, procedure, and leadership principles, which were more relevant to commanders and higher-ranking personnel than to enlisted airmen or non-leadership roles.
Likely Distribution:
- Commanders and Leadership:
- Manuals like AFM 35-15 were typically written for officers in positions of authority, such as squadron leaders, base commanders, or other individuals responsible for administrative and operational management.
- These documents often contained guidelines for managing personnel, operational efficiency, and adhering to military protocols, making them essential tools for commanders.
- Specialized Roles or Administrative Staff:
- Some sections of such manuals may have been relevant for specialized staff members who supported command operations, such as personnel officers or administrative clerks.
- They may also have been used during training programs for officers, making them accessible to individuals preparing for leadership roles.
- Enlisted Airmen:
- While the typical enlisted personnel likely didn’t have access to leadership-focused manuals, they might have referred to different operational or technical handbooks more relevant to their specific duties.
Since Roger Ramey was also a smoker, several ashtrays could be found in his office.
Ramey is smoking: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Greater Fort Worth Texas International Airport opening. Left to Right, Fred Korth, General Samuel E. Anderson and General Roger Ramey. (1953). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/20103892
In one photo of 1949, the nameplate on the desk is also visible. At least the first letter, ‘R,’ which stands for his name, can be recognized.
All other names of the individuals who appear in the photos could be ruled out. Most did not have an ‘R’ in their first or last names, and other possible individuals were never stationed in Fort Worth and can be clearly identified by their names. Thus, it is also conclusively evident that this desk belongs to Roger Ramey in his office.
The complete photos:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Six general officers at Carswell Air Force Base; Brig. Gen. Mundy, Maj. Gen. Chauncey, Brig. Gen. Montgomery, Maj. Gen. McNaughton, Maj. Gen. Ramey, and Maj. Gen Burns. (1949). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/30001681
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Henry R. Luce’s visit to Fort Worth, Texas. (1949). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/20085206
We also find it interesting that the photos were often rearranged on the walls. The walls themselves are the same, as we could clearly identify through flags, pipes, heaters, ceiling lighting, and curtains. Depending on the time period, pictures on the walls were either removed or replaced with other, more current photographs.
Same kind of curtains on some photos:
Also from 1949 (February 22):
The new desk is visible. In all the photos from 1949, a new carpet is visible. Since the previous one was replaced in the spring of 1947, this one likely dates back to 1948.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. General Vandenberg’s Birthday Celebration. (1949). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/20085809
Photos from April 10, 1947:
No desk visible. But here, you can still see the old carpet from McMullen’s time. This was replaced before the press conference in July 1947.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Amon Carter with military officers. (1947). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/20085068
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker and Brigadier General Roger Ramey, commanding the 8th Air Force. (1947). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/20064902