HENRY "HAP" ARNOLD

Air Force Hero

Arnold was a long-time champion of air power. His vision, at an early time in the history of the airplane, set the stage for its wide use later on. He promoted growth in its use, and training of its pilots. First building a strong base in the Army, his vision helped guide the creation of its own branch of service, the United States Air Force.

Henry Harley Arnold was born in Gladwyn, Pennsylvania, on June 25, 1886. He graduated from West Point in 1907 and was assigned to the infantry.In 1911 he was assigned to the Signal Corps and became a pilot after taking instruction from Orville Wright. He became an instructor at the army's first aviation school in College Park, Maryland, and was the first to fly air mail, in September of 1911. He also made the first military reconnaissance flight. Arnold oversaw the aviation training schools during World War I.

"Hap" Arnold became assistant chief of the Army Air Corps in 1935, and became chief in 1938. Much the same as General George Marshall did for the infantry, Arnold trained the men and found the future leaders that would be necessary for the coming war. In 1942 he was named Commanding General, Army Air Force, as the army created a separate branch for our air power. As principal advisor for aviation tactics to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he planned overall strategy for our planes all over the world during World War II. His leadership led to increased bombing of the industrial centers in both Germany and Japan. In 1944 he was appointed the one of the first 5-star Generals, one of only nine in our history.

Arnold had a large part in forming the Civil Air Patrol. the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, which was officially created on December1, 1941, just six days before the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' entry into World War II. He began the process that started the Women's Air Service Pilots organization, though the plan was mostly Jackie Cochran's. And he created the Air Commando group in1943, a special self contained air unit for special operations in Asia. This concept was copied later in the Air Force in 1961.

Arnold retired in 1946, but in 1949 he was appointed the first General of the Air Force. He died on January 15, 1950 due to a heart condition.