Knerr, Hugh Johnston, 1887-1971

Hugh Johnston Knerr (b. 1887, Fairfield, Iowa-d. Oct. 26, 1971), Major General in the U.S. Air Force, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1908, transferred to the Army in 1911, and attended aviation school in 1917. During the 1920s he advocated the development of advanced aircraft for use during warfare. He served as commanding officer of the 2nd Bomb Group, in charge of developing bombardment tactics in the Air Corps. He retired in 1939 after more than 30 years of service, but was recalled in 1942 to work with the Air Service Command. In 1944 he was appointed deputy commanding general of the Army Air Forces, Europe, and later commanded the Air Technical Service Command. Following World War II, General Knerr served as special assistant to the first secretary of the Air Force, and in 1948 became the Air Force's first inspector general. He retired, for the second time, in 1949.

Hugh Johnston Knerr served more than three years in the U. S. Navy before transferring to the Army and receiving his commission in the Coast Artillery Corps in 1911. After a tour in Hawaii, Knerr completed pilot training in California, and in 1924 transferred permanently to the Air Service, U. S. Army. As commander of the 2d Bomb Group in 1927, he developed bombardment tactics and then he suggested development of two new multi-engined bombers, the results of which became the Boeing B-9 and the Martin B-10 and B-12. After assignments in Washington, D. C., Ohio, Virginia and Texas, Knerr retired in 1939, only to be recalled to active duty in 1942. With promotion to Brigadier General in 1943, he became Deputy Commander of the Eighth Air Force Service Command in Europe. At the end of World War II, he was assigned the duty of creating the Office of Inspector General for the newly formed independent Air Force. General Knerr retired once again in 1949 and entered civilian life. He died of cancer in 1971.

U.S. Air Force officer.

U.S. Air Force general.