Arnold, Henry Harley, 1886-1950

Henry Harley "Hap"Arnold was a five-star general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. He is the only officer to ever hold a five-star grade in two different U.S. military services. Instructed to fly by the Wright Brothers, Arnold was one of the first military pilots worldwide and the second rated pilot in the history of the United States Air Force. He was commander of the Army Air Forces in victory over Germany and Japan in World War II. General Arnold became a powerful advocate for creation of an independent Air Force and played a key role in the political struggles with the hierarchies of the United States Army and United States Navy. He personally contributed to most of the major milestones of development of a separate Air Force until he retired in 1946. Three years later, by act of Congress, he received permanent five-star rank as General of the Air Force, the first such commission ever granted. During his long career Arnold wrote a number of books, including boys' books to create interest among youth in flying, and the post-World War II autobiography entitled "Global Mission," an accurate account of Air Force activities during the war. Hap Arnold died at his ranch home near Sonoma, California on January 15, 1950.

Lieutenant General, U.S.A., Commanding General, Army Air Forces.

Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold was the only officer to ever hold a five-star grade in two different U. S. Military services, first the Army and then the Air Force. Instructed to fly by the Wright Brothers, Arnold was one of the first military pilots worldwide and the second rated pilot in the history of the United States Air Force. He was commander of the Army Air Forces in victory over Germany and Japan in World War II. General Arnold became a powerful advocate for creation of an independent Air Force and played a key role in the political struggles with the hierarchies of the United States Army and United States Navy. He personally contributed to most of the major milestones of development of a separate Air Force until he retired in 1946. Three years later, by act of Congress, he received permanent five-star rank as General of the Air Force, the first such commission ever granted. During his long career Arnold wrote a number of books, including boys' books to create interest among youth in flying, and the post-World War II autobiography entitled "Global Mission," an accurate account of Air Force activities during the war. Hap Arnold died at his ranch home near Sonoma, California on January 15, 1950.

Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, Commanding General, Army Air Forces.

Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold is the only officer to ever hold a five-star grade in two different U.S. military services, first as General of the Army and then as General of the Air Force. Taught to fly by the Wright Brothers, Arnold was one of the first military pilots worldwide and the second rated pilot in the history of the United States Army Air Forces. He was commander of the Army Air Forces in the victory over Germany and Japan in World War II. General Arnold became a powerful advocate for creation of an independent Air Force and played a key role in the political struggles over that with the hierarchies of the United States Army and United States Navy. He personally contributed to most of the major milestones of development of the Air Force during the long period until he retired in 1946. Three years later, by act of Congress, he received permanent five-star rank as general of the Air Force, the first such commission ever granted. During his career Arnold wrote a number of books, including early boys' books to create interest among youth in flying. He also wrote the post-World War II autobiography entitled "Global Mission," an accurate account of Air Force activities in the war and his own life. General Hap Arnold died at his ranch home near Sonoma, California on January 15, 1950.

General, U.S. Army, Commanding General, Army Air Forces.

Biographical Note

1907-1909 assigned to the 29th Infantry, served in the Philippines; 1911 transferred to the Signal Corps; 1912 winner of the first Mackay trophy; 1917 in charge of the Information Service, Aviation Division of the Signal Corps; 1918 assistant executive officer, later assistant director, Office of Military Aeronautics; 1935 in command of 1st Wing of General Headquarters, Air Force, March Field, California; 1936-1938 assistant to chief of Air Corps; 1938-1941 chief of Air Corps; 1941-1946 chief of the Army Air Force.

Epithet: US army and air force officer