Harold George (aviator)
Encyclopedia
Harold Huston George was a general officer in the United States Army Air Forces
during World War II
. He began his military career before World War I
when he enlisted as a private in the 3rd New York Infantry Regiment
. Joining the Air Service
, he became an ace
in France in 1918, credited with five aerial victories.
George, known as "Pursuit" George to distinguish him from Harold L. George
("Bomber" George), commanded the 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) on Luzon
following the attack by Japan on the Philippine Islands, then directed the remnants of the Army's air forces in the Philippine Islands after Far East Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton
evacuated to Australia on 24 December 1941.
's raid on Columbus, New Mexico
. His unit was federalized and deployed to the Mexican border, where he served as a sergeant until October 5.
George enlisted as an aviation cadet on April 15, 1917, in the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
. He completed flying training on the Curtiss biplane at Hazelhurst Field, Mineola, New York
, received a rating
of Reserve Military Aviator, and was commissioned a first lieutenant
in the Signal Officers Reserve Corps (SORC) on September 15, 1917. He went to Kelly Field, Texas
, for additional training before going to Tours
, France
, as commanding officer of the 201st Aero Squadron in October 1917.
For six months he instructed other pilots at the Air Service AEF's training center at Issoudun
. He then took pursuit pilot and gunnery courses himself and went into combat in August 1918 with the 185th Aero Squadron, and later duty with the 139th Aero Squadron.
George arrived at the 139th Aero Squadron on 18 September 1918. He scored his first two victories on 27 October, near Bantheville, France, he struck a formation of four enemy Fokkers, destroying two and driving the other two away. George shot down a Fokker D.VII
single-handed and shared a second win with Robert Opie Lindsay
. Two days later, he doubled again, sharing the wins over Fokker D.VIIs with Edward Haight
and Karl Schoen
. On 5 November, he shared his fifth victory over a D.VII with two other pilots, and became an ace. His Distinguished Service Cross came through after war's end, in 1919
After his return to the United States, George married Vera McKenna, whom he had met in Tours where she was working, on April 5, 1919, in New York City
. They had two children, Robert (b. 1920) and Peggy (b. 1922).
. In November 1919 he became flight commander and commanding officer of the 19th Pursuit Squadron at March Field, California
, serving until March 1922. During that time he applied for and received a regular Army commission as captain, Air Service
, in July 1920. He went to Fort Douglas, Utah
, for three years as Air Service Officer to the 104th Division. He was transferred to the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field in March 1925, as an instructor for two years, commanding officer of the 43d School Squadron, and Chief of Pursuit Instruction to July 1929.
He was then assigned to France Field, Panama
for a two year tour, as operations officer and commanding officer of the 24th Pursuit
and 7th Observation Squadron
s, respectively. He returned to Langley Field in June 25, 1932, as commanding officer of the 33d Pursuit Squadron
, followed by assignments as intelligence and operations officer of the 8th Pursuit Group
. In 1934 he commanded a sector of the Eastern Zone of Army Air Corps Mail Operation
, responsible for Air mail
operations on routes between Newark, New Jersey
; Cleveland, Ohio
; St. Louis, Missouri
; and Memphis, Tennessee
.
From September 1936 to June 1937, he attended the Air Corps Tactical School
at Maxwell Field
, Alabama
, followed in 1937-1938 by the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth
, Kansas
. His next assignment was to Selfridge Field
, Michigan with the 1st Pursuit Group
, where he commanded its 94th Pursuit Squadron
. On February 1, 1940, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and named commander of the 31st Pursuit Group
, newly activated at Selfridge.
George commanded an aircraft-ferrying flight to Panama via Mexico and Central America, exactly 20 years after he had flown a DeHaviland plane to the Pacific Coast and return to New York in an early-day transcontinental reliability test flight.
On May 4, 1941, Brig. Gen. Henry B. Clagett arrived at Manila
in the Philippines
to command the newly-created Philippine Department Air Force. George, promoted to colonel on October 9, 1940, accompanied him as his chief of staff. As the War Department
belatedly attempted to expand the defenses in the Philippines, the air forces evolved first into the Air Force, United States Army Forces Far East in August, and then into the Far East Air Force in November 1941. Clagett was named commander of the 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) and George remained as his chief of staff after a short stint as head of supply for FEAF. When Clagett was sent to Australia in mid-December, George inherited the pursuit command, and when Brereton and a small staff also left on December 24, George became de facto commander of the remaining Army aviation units and personnel.
He was promoted to brigadier general on January 25, 1942, and made his command post at Mariveles
on the Bataan
peninsula. On March 11, 1942, he was evacuated from Corregidor by PT boat
along with Gen. Douglas MacArthur
.
of the 49th Fighter Group lost directional control on take off and struck the parked Lockheed C-40 in which he had just arrived at the base. George was struck in the head, possibly by one of the fighter's wheels, and killed instantly as were two others standing with him next to the Lockheed after disembarking.
The AAF opened George Army Airfield
, a flying training base at Lawrenceville, Illinois
, in August 1942. The base was declared surplus in September 1945 and sold. Victorville Air Force Base, California, was renamed George Air Force Base
in George's honor in June 1950.
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He began his military career before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when he enlisted as a private in the 3rd New York Infantry Regiment
New York Army National Guard
The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
. Joining the Air Service
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
, he became an ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
in France in 1918, credited with five aerial victories.
George, known as "Pursuit" George to distinguish him from Harold L. George
Harold L. George
Harold Lee George was an American aviation pioneer who helped shape and promote the concept of daylight precision bombing...
("Bomber" George), commanded the 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) on Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
following the attack by Japan on the Philippine Islands, then directed the remnants of the Army's air forces in the Philippine Islands after Far East Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton
Lewis H. Brereton
Lewis Hyde Brereton was a military aviation pioneer and lieutenant general in the United States Air Force...
evacuated to Australia on 24 December 1941.
World War I service
George joined the New York National Guard on July 5, 1916, during the crisis caused by Pancho VillaPancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
's raid on Columbus, New Mexico
Battle of Columbus (1916)
The Battle of Columbus, the Burning of Columbus or the Columbus Raid began as a raid conducted by Pancho Villa's Division of the North on the small United States border town of Columbus, New Mexico in March 1916. The raid escalated into a full scale battle between Villistas and the United States Army...
. His unit was federalized and deployed to the Mexican border, where he served as a sergeant until October 5.
George enlisted as an aviation cadet on April 15, 1917, in the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
The Aviation Section, Signal Corps, was the military aviation service of the United States Army from 1914 to 1918, and a direct ancestor of the United States Air Force. It replaced and absorbed the Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps, and was succeeded briefly by the Division of Military...
. He completed flying training on the Curtiss biplane at Hazelhurst Field, Mineola, New York
Mineola, New York
Mineola is a village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 18,799 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a Native American word meaning a "pleasant place"....
, received a rating
U.S. Air Force Aeronautical Ratings
U.S. Air Force aeronautical ratings are military aviation skill standards established and awarded by the United States Air Force for commissioned officers participating in "regular and frequent flight", The standard by which flight status has been defined in law, executive orders, and regulations...
of Reserve Military Aviator, and was commissioned a first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in the Signal Officers Reserve Corps (SORC) on September 15, 1917. He went to Kelly Field, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, for additional training before going to Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, as commanding officer of the 201st Aero Squadron in October 1917.
For six months he instructed other pilots at the Air Service AEF's training center at Issoudun
Issoudun
Issoudun is a commune in the Indre department in central France. It is also referred to as Issoundun, which is the ancient name.-History:...
. He then took pursuit pilot and gunnery courses himself and went into combat in August 1918 with the 185th Aero Squadron, and later duty with the 139th Aero Squadron.
George arrived at the 139th Aero Squadron on 18 September 1918. He scored his first two victories on 27 October, near Bantheville, France, he struck a formation of four enemy Fokkers, destroying two and driving the other two away. George shot down a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
single-handed and shared a second win with Robert Opie Lindsay
Robert Opie Lindsay
Lieutenant Robert Opie Lindsay was aWorld War I fighter ace credited with six aerial victories in the closing days of the war. He returned to duty during World War II; at one point he commanded Fort Sill, Oklahoma.-References:...
. Two days later, he doubled again, sharing the wins over Fokker D.VIIs with Edward Haight
Edward Haight (aviator)
Colonel Edward Meeker Haight was a flying ace when he served as a lieutenant in World War I. He was credited with five aerial victories, all against German fighter planes....
and Karl Schoen
Karl Schoen
First Lieutenant Karl John Schoen was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories while flying a Spad XIII for the USAAS during World War I. As such, he was one of the first American aces flying for his home country.-Early life:...
. On 5 November, he shared his fifth victory over a D.VII with two other pilots, and became an ace. His Distinguished Service Cross came through after war's end, in 1919
After his return to the United States, George married Vera McKenna, whom he had met in Tours where she was working, on April 5, 1919, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. They had two children, Robert (b. 1920) and Peggy (b. 1922).
Between wars
After the war he returned to the United States for duty at Langley Field, VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. In November 1919 he became flight commander and commanding officer of the 19th Pursuit Squadron at March Field, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, serving until March 1922. During that time he applied for and received a regular Army commission as captain, Air Service
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
, in July 1920. He went to Fort Douglas, Utah
Fort Douglas, Utah
Camp Douglas was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was officially...
, for three years as Air Service Officer to the 104th Division. He was transferred to the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field in March 1925, as an instructor for two years, commanding officer of the 43d School Squadron, and Chief of Pursuit Instruction to July 1929.
He was then assigned to France Field, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
for a two year tour, as operations officer and commanding officer of the 24th Pursuit
24th Fighter Squadron
The 24th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 6th Fighter Wing, based at France Field, Canal Zone...
and 7th Observation Squadron
397th Bombardment Squadron
The 397th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the VI Bomber Command, based at Rio Hato Army Air Base, Panama. It was inactivated on 1 November 1946.-Heraldry:...
s, respectively. He returned to Langley Field in June 25, 1932, as commanding officer of the 33d Pursuit Squadron
33d Special Operations Squadron
The 33d Special Operations Squadron flies MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned aerial vehicles and is currently stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico. The 33 SOS is under the command of the Air Force Special Operations Command...
, followed by assignments as intelligence and operations officer of the 8th Pursuit Group
8th Operations Group
The 8th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing. It is stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, and is a part of Pacific Air Forces ....
. In 1934 he commanded a sector of the Eastern Zone of Army Air Corps Mail Operation
Air Mail Scandal
The Air Mail scandal, also known as the Air Mail fiasco, is the name that the American press gave to the political scandal resulting from a congressional investigation of a 1930 meeting , between Postmaster General Walter Folger Brown and the executives of the top airlines, and to the disastrous...
, responsible for Air mail
Airmail
Airmail is mail that is transported by aircraft. It typically arrives more quickly than surface mail, and usually costs more to send...
operations on routes between Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
; Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
; St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
; and Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
.
From September 1936 to June 1937, he attended the Air Corps Tactical School
Air Corps Tactical School
The Air Corps Tactical School, also known as ACTS and "the Tactical School", was a military professional development school for officers of the United States Army Air Service and United States Army Air Corps, the first such school in the world. Created in 1920 at Langley Field, Virginia, it...
at Maxwell Field
Maxwell Field
Maxwell Field was the football stadium located behind the former location of Louisville Male High School, 911 S. Brook St., Louisville, Kentucky, 40203 which was bounded by the streets of Brook, Breckinridge, Floyd, and Caldwell streets in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1984 a double murder known locally...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, followed in 1937-1938 by the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. His next assignment was to Selfridge Field
Selfridge Field
Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens.-Units and organizations:...
, Michigan with the 1st Pursuit Group
1st Operations Group
The 1st Operations Group is the flying component of the 1st Fighter Wing, assigned to the USAF Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. The 1st Operations Group is the oldest major air combat unit in the United States Air Force, being a successor organization...
, where he commanded its 94th Pursuit Squadron
94th Fighter Squadron
The 94th Fighter Squadron ' is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 1st Operations Group and stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia....
. On February 1, 1940, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and named commander of the 31st Pursuit Group
31st Operations Group
The 31st Operations Group is the flying component of the 31st Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. It is stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy.-Overview:...
, newly activated at Selfridge.
George commanded an aircraft-ferrying flight to Panama via Mexico and Central America, exactly 20 years after he had flown a DeHaviland plane to the Pacific Coast and return to New York in an early-day transcontinental reliability test flight.
On May 4, 1941, Brig. Gen. Henry B. Clagett arrived at Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
to command the newly-created Philippine Department Air Force. George, promoted to colonel on October 9, 1940, accompanied him as his chief of staff. As the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
belatedly attempted to expand the defenses in the Philippines, the air forces evolved first into the Air Force, United States Army Forces Far East in August, and then into the Far East Air Force in November 1941. Clagett was named commander of the 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) and George remained as his chief of staff after a short stint as head of supply for FEAF. When Clagett was sent to Australia in mid-December, George inherited the pursuit command, and when Brereton and a small staff also left on December 24, George became de facto commander of the remaining Army aviation units and personnel.
He was promoted to brigadier general on January 25, 1942, and made his command post at Mariveles
Mariveles
Mariveles may refer to:* Mariveles, Bataan * Mariveles Mountains...
on the Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
peninsula. On March 11, 1942, he was evacuated from Corregidor by PT boat
PT boat
PT Boats were a variety of motor torpedo boat , a small, fast vessel used by the United States Navy in World War II to attack larger surface ships. The PT boat squadrons were nicknamed "the mosquito fleet". The Japanese called them "Devil Boats".The original pre–World War I torpedo boats were...
along with Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
.
Death on duty
George was killed in a ground accident at Batchelor Field, southeast of Darwin, Australia on 29 April 1942 when a Curtiss P-40Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
of the 49th Fighter Group lost directional control on take off and struck the parked Lockheed C-40 in which he had just arrived at the base. George was struck in the head, possibly by one of the fighter's wheels, and killed instantly as were two others standing with him next to the Lockheed after disembarking.
The AAF opened George Army Airfield
Lawrenceville-Vincennes International Airport
Lawrenceville-Vincennes International Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Lawrenceville, a city in Lawrence County, Illinois, United States...
, a flying training base at Lawrenceville, Illinois
Lawrenceville, Illinois
Lawrenceville is a city in Lawrence County, Illinois, along the Embarras River. The population was 4,745 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lawrence County...
, in August 1942. The base was declared surplus in September 1945 and sold. Victorville Air Force Base, California, was renamed George Air Force Base
George Air Force Base
George Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located within city limits, 8 miles northwest of central Victorville, California, about 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. The facility was closed by the Base Realignment and Closure 1992 commission at the end of the Cold...
in George's honor in June 1950.