John F. Bookout, Jr., who served as president and CEO of Houston, Texas-based Shell Oil Company, is recognized as an important leader in the oil industry. Before starting his four-decade career at Shell, Bookout joined the Army Air Force in 1943 and was assigned to the 96th Bomb Group. He served as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot and flew 19 combat missions over Germany. On a mission to Dresden, Bookout’s aircraft sustained heavy battle damage and lost two engines, but Bookout and his crew were able to safely return to their base at Snetterton Heath, England.