Ralph P. Cousins

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For the U.S. Navy Admiral, see Ralph W. Cousins.

Ralph Pittman Cousins
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Spouse(s)Diana Cousins (née Wilson)
Other workVice President and Secretary, Founders' Insurance Company
President, Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners

Ralph Pittman Cousins (1 December 1891[1] – 15 March 1964) was a United States Army major general Born in Mexia, Texas, he graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1915. He served in the Cavalry before transferring to the United States Army Air Corps. He served in a variety of command positions in the newly created air service of the United States Army and was instrumental in designing the model for what would become the commercial aviation system. Schools under his command trained many of the aircrews who served in all theaters of World War II. After retiring from the army, he became a businessman. Cousins died in 1964 and he was memorialized as an air pioneer who helped bring American air power from it beginnings to its power in World War II.

Early life and education

At West Point in 1915

Cousins was born on 1 December 1891, in Mexia, Texas, to Robert Bartow and Dora M. (Kelly) Cousins.[2]

On 14 June 1911, he began his studies at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated on 12 June 1915, as a member of the class the stars fell on; his rank in the class was 129 of 164 and his Cullum number is 5441.[3]

Career

Pre-war

Cousins was commissioned as a

Cavalry on 12 June 1915. He was assigned to the 12th Cavalry in Brownsville, Texas, in September 1915 and performed border patrol activities, including actions against Mexican bandits, until February 1916, when he was transferred to the 6th Cavalry. Cousins participated in the Punitive Expedition into Mexico. He was promoted to the first lieutenant of Cavalry on 1 July 1916 and was transferred to the Big Bend District, Texas later that month.[3][4]

In August 1916, Cousins was assigned to the

Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Washington, D.C.[3][4] Cousins was then assigned as the aviation representative at the Army War College until 1 February 1918.[3]

World War I

Cousins was assigned to the

American Expeditionary Force in France as a liaison officer to French and British aviation units, including the British Bristol Fighting Squadron. He performed duties at the front. He returned to the United States on approximately 21 May 1918 and was assigned as a member of the Air Service Control Board in the Office of the Director of Military Aeronautics in Washington, D.C. until 25 September 1918. On 30 June 1918, he received a temporary promotion to major of Cavalry. He was assigned as commander of Roosevelt Field, Group B, 1st Provisional Wing until 4 January 1919.[3][4][5]

Inter-war years

Cousins was assigned as the commanding officer of

Kelly Field, Texas from 15 June 1919 until September 1920. During this period, he was returned to the rank of captain of Cavalry on 27 February 1920, transferred to the Air Service on 1 July 1920 and received a temporary promotion to major of the Air Service on 18 July 1920. Cousins was a member of the advisory board, Chief Air Service in Washington, D.C., from September 1920 to August 1921.[6]

From August 1921 to June 1922, Cousins was assigned as a student officer at

Chanute Field, Illinois from November 1923 to September 1924. He returned to Washington, D.C. for duty in the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps from January 1925 through May 1928. During this time he was promoted again to major of the Air Service on 21 June 1925.[6]

Cousins was assigned to foreign service as a commanding officer at

Langley Field, Virginia, where he performed a variety of staff duties until 18 January 1942; on 1 April 1939, Cousins was rated as both a command pilot and combat observer. Cousins was promoted to colonel in the Army of the United States on 26 June 1941 and to brigadier general on 10 July 1941.[7][10]

World War II

On 7 December 1941 (

Mather Field for an inspection. He observed that African-American officers were dining in the same mess as white Americans. He ordered that the mess facilities be segregated. African American officers stopped using the mess entirely.[12] Cousins commanded the unit until 15 August 1945.[10]

Cousins retired from the army with a disability on 31 March 1946.[10]

Later life and death

Cousins married Diana Wilson Fitzmaurice in 1945. He helped organize the Founders' Insurance Company in Los Angeles; he served as its vice president and its secretary, and as a member of the board of directors until the company was sold in 1950.[5]

Cousins was appointed to the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners in 1950.[5] In 1955, he predicted that large gains in passenger traffic and freight shipments at Los Angeles International Airport would lead to "utter chaos" by 1960 unless improvements were made.[13] In October 1956, Cousins, who had become president of the board of commissioners, announced that the design of the new airport had been approved by the board following a $159 million bond issue.[14]

In January 1950, Cousins was serving as chairman of the Southern California United Service Organizations.[15]

On 15 March 1964, Cousins was stricken while on his ranch near

Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles. He was memorialized by the West Point Association of Graduates as an air pioneer who helped bring American air power from it beginnings to its power in World War II[5]

Awards

Distinguished Service Medal[17]
Mexican Service Medal[citation needed]
World War I Victory Medal[citation needed]
American Campaign Medal[10]
World War II Victory Medal[citation needed
]
Cloud and Banner (China), grade not specified[10][A]

A Each of the nine grades of the Order of the Cloud and Banner features a unique ribbon

References

  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. 392–394. USAF historical studies: no. 91. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  2. ISBN 0-7385-0881-0
    . Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e Cullem, George W. (1920). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York Since its Establishment in 1802. Vol. VI–B. Saginaw, Michigan: Seeman & Peters. pp. 1787–1788. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d "Major General Ralph P. Cousins". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Ralph P. Cousins 1915". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Cullum, George W. (1930). Donaldson, William H. (ed.). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York Since its Establishment in 1802. Vol. VII. Chicago, Illinois: R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, The Lakeside Press. p. 1105. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e Cullum, George W. (1940). Farman, E. E. (ed.). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York Since its Establishment in 1802. Vol. VIII. Chicago, Illinois: R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, The Lakeside Press. p. 302. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  8. ^ Heintzelman, S. "Annual Report for The Command and General Staff School year 1932–1933" (PDF). The Command and General Staff School. p. 4. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  9. ^ Cousins, Ralph P. "Tannenberg: a failure to command". Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library. The Command and General Staff School. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Cullum, George W. (1950). Branham, Charles N. (ed.). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York Since its Establishment in 1802. Vol. IX. p. 203. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  11. ^ a b "West Coast Air Corps Training Center". The California State Military Museum. California State Military Department. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  12. ISBN 0-8093-2325-7
    .
  13. ^ "Foresees Chaos at L.A. Airport Unless Improved". Vol. XXIX, no. 47. Desert Sun. 25 November 1955. p. 2. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Airport Design At International Given Approval". Vol. XXX, no. 42. Desert Sun. 19 October 1956. p. 3. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  15. ^ "County USO Head". Vol. XXIII, no. 43. Desert Sun. 17 January 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Gen. Cousins Dies; Stricken At Indio Ranch". Vol. 37, no. 191. Desert Sun. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Ralph Pittman Cousins". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved 25 October 2015. Major General Ralph Pittman Cousins (ASN: 0-3877), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General Army Air Force Western Flying Training Command, from 1942 to 1945.
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