Harold L. George

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Harold L. George
Air Transport Command
Battles/warsWorld War I
  • Meuse-Argonne Offensive
World War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Legion of Merit
Air Medal
Knight of the Order of the Southern Cross

Harold Lee George (July 19, 1893[1] – February 24, 1986) was an American aviation pioneer who helped shape and promote the concept of daylight precision bombing.[2] An outspoken proponent of the industrial web theory, George taught at the Air Corps Tactical School and influenced a significant group of airmen passing through the school, ones who had powerful influence during and after World War II. He has been described as the leader of the Bomber Mafia, the men who advocated for an independent military arm composed of heavy bombers. George helped shape America's bomber strategy for the war by assisting Air War Plans Division with the development of a complete aircraft production and bombing strategy.

In 1934, George helped institute the Order of Daedalians, and served as that organization's first Wing Commander.[3][4]

During World War II, George led the

Hughes Aircraft become a very profitable company, and was twice elected mayor of Beverly Hills, California
.

Early career

George was born July 19, 1893, in

Cavalry as a reserve officer. A month later, he went on active duty with the Cavalry at Fort Myer, Virginia, and married Anna Virginia Helms on August 10. In October George resigned his reserve commission to become a flying cadet with the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps.[2]

George attended the ASSC School of Military Aeronautics (an eight-week ground school) set up on the campus of

Meuse-Argonne Offensive.[6] George observed that massed bombers, flying in formation, swamped enemy defenses and so reduced the attacker's casualties.[7]

In 1919, George clerked part time for U.S. Supreme Court Justice James McReynolds, and graduated in 1920 from Georgetown University Law School.[8]

Bombing advocate

In France, George met

William "Billy" Mitchell and became convinced that Mitchell's vision of an independent Air Force was the best future direction for the American military.[5]

After the war, George was assigned to the

bombing demonstration against old battleships, and helped develop air-to-ship tactics.[5] In August 1925, George went to Washington as chief of the Bombardment Section in the Operations Division of the Office of the Chief of Air Service.[2] Later that year, still at the rank of first lieutenant, he was one of several young air officers to testify at Mitchell's court-martial.[9]

In July 1929, George was ordered to

Luke Field. In September, 1931, he went to Maxwell Field, Alabama, to study at the Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS) where he helped refine the precision daylight bomber doctrine taught there. He was promoted to captain during the assignment, on December 1, 1931. Following graduation, George became an instructor at ACTS, teaching air tactics and precision bombing doctrine,[2] and became de facto leader of the influential "Bomber Mafia". With Haywood S. Hansell, Laurence S. Kuter and Donald Wilson, George researched, debated and codified what the men believed would be a war-winning strategy that Wilson termed "industrial web theory".[10] In 1934, George was made director of the Department of Air Tactics and Strategy, and vigorously promoted the doctrine of precision bombing in which massed air fleets of heavy bombers would be commanded independently of naval or ground warfare needs.[5]

Majors Harold L. George, Vincent L. Meloy and Caleb V. Haynes as goodwill pilots to Bogotá, Colombia

George was promoted to the temporary rank of major in July 1936. He graduated from the

B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.[2] Promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel on December 30, 1940, he also filled the position of Executive Officer of the 2nd Bombardment Wing from January 1941.[3]

In July 1941, George was appointed assistant chief of staff for

Air Corps Ferrying Command (ACFC).[2]

Air transport

In June 1942, ACFC was redesignated

Air Transport Command and tasked to become not just a delivery service of aircraft from factory to the field, but a worldwide cargo and personnel air transportation service. George led it brilliantly throughout World War II, with the able assistance of many staff officers including his deputy, General C. R. Smith, peacetime president of American Airlines.[2]

New organizations were formed and new cross-ocean routes were established in the face of the enemy and under difficult conditions. George took the ferrying command from 130 obsolescent aircraft to 3,000 modern military transports, and expanded the personnel from 11,000 to 300,000.[5] For this major contribution to his country, George received the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal, as well as decorations from Great Britain, France, Brazil, Peru and China.[2]

After the war he served for a while as director of information for the USAAF and as senior Air Force representative of the military staff of the United Nations. He retired from active duty December 31, 1946, with the rank of lieutenant general dating back to March 1945.[2]

Post-war activity

George accepted a position at

Hughes Aircraft to work for Howard Hughes, along with fellow bomber advocate Ira C. Eaker. Eaker and George transformed Hughes Aircraft into a very profitable military contractor,[11] reaching $100M in sales in 1948.[12] George expanded the company beyond the manufacture of aircraft to focus on the new field of military electronics, primarily by bringing together expert electronics designer Dean Wooldridge and engineer-businessman Simon Ramo, both hired by George in 1946. In August 1953, Ramo and Wooldridge resigned. George followed a few months later to help form the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation, competing directly with Hughes by developing ballistic missile defenses. In 1958, Ramo-Wooldridge would merge with Thompson Products, to become Thompson Ramo Wooldridge, which was shortened to TRW in 1965.[13]

After moving there in 1948, George was elected to the City Council of Beverly Hills, California, in 1952, and in 1954 he was elected mayor, a one-year term. He served a second term in 1959.[14] During his second term, George established an annual award to honor outstanding Beverly Hills police officers, given in the name of Clinton H. Anderson, the city's police chief.[15][16]

In 1955, George was recalled to active duty in the United States Air Force for eight months as a special consultant to the Air Force Chief of Staff. George was relieved from active duty November 4, 1955.[2]

By 1984, George was living in

"Helms for Senate" campaign.[17] On February 24, 1986, George died in Laguna Hills. He is survived by his wife Violette; three daughters and one son.[15]

Legacy

In his directorship of ACTS, George is known today as the unofficial leader of the men in the Army Air Corps who closed ranks and pushed exclusively toward the concept of daylight precision bombing as a strategic, war-winning doctrine.[18] Though he played a fundamental role in the development of U.S. air power strategy, he is perhaps better known as the first commander of Air Transport Command—the man who guided and expanded that organization throughout World War II.[19]

The Order of Daedalians has, since 1956, awarded the "Lieutenant General Harold L. George Civilian Airmanship Award", a trophy "presented annually to the pilot, copilot and/or crew of a United States certified commercial airline selected by a Federal Aviation committee to have demonstrated ability, judgment and/or heroism above and beyond normal operational requirements."[20] The Air Force Aid Society bestows the "Lieutenant General Harold Lee George Educational Grant Award."[21]

In 1991 he was inducted into the Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame.[22]

Recognition

George was awarded:

Effective dates of promotion

  • Second Lieutenant - May 21, 1917
  • First Lieutenant - April 1921
  • Captain - December 31, 1931[3]
  • Major - July 1936[5]
  • Lieutenant Colonel - February 1941
  • Colonel - January 1942
  • Brigadier General - April 1942
  • Major General - June 1942[5]
  • Lieutenant General - March 16, 1945.[2]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ Fogerty, Robert P. (1953). "Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers, 1917-1952, Volume 1 – A thru L" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. 642–644. USAF historical studies: no. 91. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Lieutenant General Harold L. George". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Davis-Monthan Aviation Field Register. People: Harold Lee George. Retrieved on July 17, 2009.
  4. ^ George, Harold L. Air University Review, July–August 1984. "Origins of The Order of Daedalians." Archived 2017-01-07 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on January 2, 2010.
  5. ^
    ISBN 1-57607-345-9
  6. ^ Edkins, 1997, p. 5.
  7. ^ Edkins, 1997, p. 7.
  8. ISBN 9780813937274
    .
  9. ^ Edkins, 1997, p. 2.
  10. ^ Finney, 1998, p. 66
  11. ^ Hack, 2007, p. 180.
  12. ^ Hack, 2007, p. 187.
  13. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. TRW Inc. Retrieved on January 2, 2010.
  14. ^ The City of Beverly Hills. "Past Mayors." Retrieved on January 25, 2010.
  15. ^ a b Los Angeles Times, March 30, 1986. "Harold L. George, Ex-Beverly Hills Mayor, Dies at 93." Retrieved on January 2, 2010.
  16. ^ Los Angeles Times, December 16, 1989. "Clinton H. Anderson; Ex-Beverly Hills Chief." Retrieved on January 2, 2010.
  17. ^ City-data.com. Laguna-Hills, California (CA) Political Contributions by Individuals. Retrieved on January 2, 2010.
  18. ^ Boyne, Walter. "The Tactical School". AIR FORCE Magazine. Retrieved 27 July 2008.
  19. ^ Edkins, 1997, p. 1.
  20. ^ Order of Daedalians. "List of Awards". Archived 2009-06-11 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on July 17, 2009.
  21. ^ Air Force Aid Society. "Named Education Grant Awards." Archived 2010-02-17 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on July 17, 2009.
  22. ^ "Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame 1991".
Bibliography

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harold_L._George&oldid=1205793589"