Roy C. Kirtland

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Roy Carrington Kirtland
3d US Infantry Regiment
  • Langley Field
  • Air Corps Tactical School
    • Spouse(s)Helen K. Parker
    Thomas DeWitt Milling
    (1887–1960). Image taken at College Park, Maryland in 1911.

    Roy Carrington Kirtland (14 May 1874 – 2 May 1941) was a United States Army soldier, officer and aviator.[4] Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico was named for him. He was among the first American military aviators and he recommended Henry "Hap" Arnold for aviation training.

    Biography

    He was born on May 14, 1874, in Fort Benton, Montana to Thaddeus Sanford Kirtland and Ann Virginia Carter. He married Helen K. Parker.

    Kirtland joined the Army in 1898 and was commissioned on August 1, 1901, as a

    Signal Corps

    Kirtland then commanded the First Aero Squadron in 1913 until his return to the infantry division in 1915. He rejoined Signal Corps aviation in 1917 and was tasked to organize four Air Service Mechanics Regiments, subsequently commanding the third in France.[6] While overseas, he served as the Inspector for aviation in England and air service rest camps.

    After the war, Kirtland became a flight instructor, commanded aviation supply depots and graduated from the

    General Staff until his appointment in 1930 as commandant of the Langley Station and as acting commandant of the Air Corps Tactical School
    . He retired in 1938 after 40 years service.

    Colonel Kirtland was reactivated in advance of

    Moffett Field
    .

    He died on May 2, 1941, of a

    San Diego, California
    .

    Legacy

    At special request from General

    H. H. Arnold
    , Albuquerque Air Army Airbase was renamed Kirtland Army Airfield.

    References

    1. ^ Frederick B. Hennessy; earlyaviators.com
    2. ^ Harold Geiger; earlyaviators.com
    3. ^ Lewis C. Rockwell; earlyaviators.com
    4. Early Aviators
      . Retrieved 2012-12-04.
    5. ^ a b "Roy Carrington Kirtland". Los Angeles Times. Roy C. Kirtland, 67, of Coronado, a pioneer in the Army's Air Corps, died today at the post hospital at Moffett Field, near here. His Army service began In 1898.
    6. ^ "Namesakes: Roy Kirtland". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
    7. New York Times
      . June 12, 1912. Retrieved 2012-12-04. Up in New Wright Flyer. Military Death Toll in This Country Brought Up to Four
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