Arnold, Henry Harley, 1886-1950

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1886-06-25
Death 1950-01-15
Birth 1896
Death 1951
Birth 1888
Death 1950
Americans
English

Biographical notes:

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.

From the description of Hap Arnold - Murray Green collection, 1891-1988. (US Air Force Academy). WorldCat record id: 302423633

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

From the description of Typed letter signed : Washington, D.C., to John Steinbeck, 1942 May 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 775601512

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.

From the description of Henry H. Arnold collection, 1911-1955. (US Air Force Academy). WorldCat record id: 549504474

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

From the description of Typed letter signed : Washington, D.C., to John Steinbeck, 1942 July 13. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 775605173

From the description of Typed letter signed : Washington, D.C., to John Steinbeck, 1942 July 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 775607483

From the description of Typed letter signed : Washington, D.C., to John Steinbeck, 1942 Dec. 26. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 775676196

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.

From the description of John W. Huston - Henry H. Arnold collection, 1944-1945. (US Air Force Academy). WorldCat record id: 450043022

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

From the description of Typed letter signed : Washington, D.C., to "All Officers, Army Air Forces", 1943 Apr. 6. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 775678127

From the description of Photostat of a typed letter signed : Washington, D.C., to John Steinbeck, 1943 Apr. 6. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 775681198

Biographical Note

1886, June 25 Born, Gladwyne, Pa. 1907 West Point, N.Y. West Point United States Military Academy Graduated, United States Military Academy,West Point, N.Y. Commissioned second lieutenant in the infantry, United States Army 1907 1909 Served with the twenty-ninth infantry, the Philippines 1909 1911 Served with the twenty-ninth infantry,Governor's Island, N.Y. 1911 Dayton, Ohio Dayton Taught to fly in ten days by Orville Wright,Dayton, Ohio Received military aviator's license number two 1911 1912 College Park, Md. College Park Augusta, Ga. Augusta Augusta Flight instructor, Signal Corps Aviation School,College Park, Md., and Augusta, Ga. 1912 Awarded first Mackay trophy for a thirty-mile triangular reconnaissance flight First military aviator to use a radio for aerial observation of field artillery fire 1913 Married Eleanor A. Pool 1916 Philippines Republic of the Philippines Served briefly with thirteenth infantry, the Philippines Madison Barracks, N.Y. Madison Barracks (historical) Madison-Irving Medical Center Madison Creek Madison Elementary School James Madison Plaza Madison County Sewer District Cazenovia Wastewater Treatment Plant Madison High School Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church Madison Hall Hampton Inn Madison Square Garden Southern Madison County Volunteer Ambulance Corps Madison Center North Madison Baptist Church Madison United Methodist Church Madison Cemetery Sherman Barracks Village of Madison Madison Square Station New York Post Office James Madison High School Scott Barracks Plattsburg Barracks (historical) Hampton Inn Madison Square Garden Area Hotel Madison Post Office Served two months with third infantry,Madison Barracks, N.Y. 1916 1917 San Diego, Calif. San Diego Supply officer, Aviation School,San Diego, Calif. Returned to air service as a captain 1917 Organized and commanded Seventh Aero Squadron,Panama Canal Zone 1917 1918 In charge of Information Service, Aviation Division, Signal Corps Assistant executive director, military aeronautics 1918 Europe Europe Mount Europe Alaskan European B And B De L'Europe EUROPE VILLA CORTES Hotel Gare de Lille - Europe Bureau de Poste de Parthenay Europe RESIDENCIAL CLUB EUROPEO Hotel Europe Hôtel residhome prestige val europe Hotel D Europe Avignon City Cen Hotel Centro Europeu Tourist Hotel Europe Carlton-Europe Hotel Bureau de Poste de Strasbourg Parlement Europeen Europe Bay Woods State Natural Area Best Western Premier Hotel Carrefour de l'Europe Bureau de Poste de Paris Europe Ehsal Europese Hogeschool Brussel / Campus Prinssenstraat GRAND HOTEL DE l EUROPE Europeo Flowers Bureau de Poste de Montelimar Europe Hotel Europe Inspected aviation activities in Europe Executive officer and later assistant director, military aeronautics 1919 District supervisor, Western District, Air Service,Rockwell Field, Coronado, Calif. 1919 1922 Washington Washington Oregon Oregon California California Originated and activated first army aerial forest fire patrol in Washington,Oregon, and California San Francisco, Calif. San Francisco San Francisco Air officer, Ninth Corps Area,San Francisco, Calif. 1922 1924 Commanding officer, Rockwell Air Depot, Coronado, Calif. 1925 Washington, D.C. Washington, D. C. District of Columbia Graduated, Army Industrial College,Washington, D.C. Obtained air mail charter from the postmaster general and organized Pan American Airways with Carl Spaatz,Jack Jouett, and John Montgomery 1926 Published Airmen and Aircraft: An Introduction to Aeronautics (New York: Ronald Press. 216 pp.) 1926 1929 Commander, air squadron, Cavalry School,Fort Riley, Kans. 1928 Published Bill Bruce aviator series 1929 Graduated, Command and General Staff School,Ft. Leavenworth, Kans. 1929 1936 Fairfield and Dayton, Ohio March Field, Calif. March Field Commander, Fairfield and Dayton, Ohio, and March Field, Calif. Munroc Lake, Calif. Established Munroc Lake, Calif., bombing and gunnery range for early experiments in precision bombardment. 1933 1935 Supervised twenty-five Civilian Conservation Corps,March Field, Calif. 1934 Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City Directed Western Division, Air Corps air mail service,Salt Lake City, Utah Washington, D.C. Washington, D. C. District of Columbia Alaska Alaska Awarded distinguished flying cross and second Mackay trophy for leading a mass flight of bombers from Washington, D.C., to Alaska 1936 Published with Ira EakerThis Flying Game (New York: Funk & Wagnalls. 275 pp.) 1936 1938 Assistant to chief of air corps,Washington, D.C. 1938 1942 Chief of air corps; acting deputy chief of staff for air, 1940 1941 Published with Ira EakerWinged Warfare (New York: Harper & Bros. 265 pp.) 1941 1942 Chief of army air forces 1941 1945 (Newfoundland) Newfoundland Grand Banks of Newfoundland Staten Island Reception Center New York Foundling Hospital Newfoundland Newfoundland Creek Newfoundland Newfoundland Post Office (historical) Newfoundland Creek Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland Newfoundland Area Ambulance Mount Newfoundland Newfoundland Island Newfoundland Newfoundland Dog Pond Newfoundland Point Newfoundland Seamounts Newfoundland Evaporation Basin Newfoundland Reef Newfoundland Ridge Newfoundland Estate Newfoundland Dike Newfoundland Plantation (Washington, D.C.) Washington, D. C. District of Columbia (Quebec, Canada) Québec Québec (Cairo, Egypt Cairo Tehran, Iran) Tehrān Tehrān Ostān-e Tehrān (Quebec, Canada) Québec Québec (Berlin, Germany) Berlin Land Berlin Berlin Member, Joint and Combined Chiefs of Staff, Arcadia(Newfoundland),post Arcadia(Washington, D.C.),Casablanca,Quadrant,(Quebec, Canada),Sextant(Cairo, Egypt- Tehran, Iran),London,Octagon(Quebec, Canada), and Terminal(Berlin, Germany) conferences 1942 Published with Ira EakerArmy Flyer (New York: Harper & Bros. 299 pp.) 1942 1946 Commanding general, army air forces Deputy chief of staff, army 1943 Promoted to general 1944 Named to five star rank of general of the army 1946 Washington, D.C. Washington, D. C. District of Columbia Assigned to duty in the Office of Chief of Staff,Washington, D.C. Sonoma, Calif. Sonoma Retired from active duty to his ranch, Sonoma, Calif. 1949 Published Global Mission (New York: Harper & Bros. 626 pp.) 1950 Died, Sonoma, Calif.

From the guide to the Henry Harley Arnold Papers, 1903-1963, (bulk 1940-1946), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

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

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001394.0x0000c7

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Subjects:

  • Aeronautics, Commercial
  • Aeronautics, Military
  • Aeronautics, Military
  • Air mail service
  • Air power
  • Flight
  • Flight training
  • Generals
  • Generals
  • Generals
  • Motion pictures in aeronautics
  • Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941
  • World War, 1939-1945
  • World War, 1939-1945
  • World War, 1939-1945
  • World War, 1939-1945
  • Aeronautics, Military
  • Generals
  • Generals
  • World War, 1939-1945
  • World War, 1939-1945
  • World War, 1939-1945

Occupations:

  • Army officers
  • Aviators

Places:

  • Burma, Asia (as recorded)
  • Indonesia, Asia (as recorded)
  • Malaya, Malaysia (as recorded)
  • Thailand, Asia (as recorded)
  • South Eastern Asia, Asia (as recorded)
  • Sonoma (Calif.) (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Ledo, Assam (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)

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