LAURENCE REES: And the single most overrated leader in the war?

ANTONY BEEVOR: Probably General Douglas McArthur, who was a brilliant propagandist and self-publicist but certainly his attempts to influence strategy in the Pacific were probably totally wrong. I think that the US Navy had a much better strategy of forging on towards the islands which they could use as forward aircraft carriers or forward air bases for the bombing of Tokyo. Because the island hopping strategy, which was essential in some cases, simply could not be maintained throughout the whole of the Pacific region. It would have ground down the American forces, and McArthur’s view of 'symbolic actions' was certainly not helpful.