Hugh J. Knerr
Encyclopedia
Hugh Johnston Knerr was a Major General
in the United States Air Force
.
. He passed away on October 26, 1971 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
.
in 1908 and served as an ensign
in the United States Navy
until 1911. He commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps of the United States Army
on September 28, 1911. After seven years service in which he reached the rank of captain, he was detailed to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps
in January 1918 during World War I
.
For six months Knerr served as an engineering officer at flying training fields in Tennessee and Florida. He was sent to Hawaii in July 1918, where he was Aviation Officer to the Hawaiian Department and commanding officer of Luke Field
until July 1919, when he returned to the Coast Artillery during the demobilization following the war.
In February 1922 he was detailed again to the Air Service
in the grade of major. In February 1924 he formally transferred to the Air Service to qualify for command of the 88th Observation Squadron at Wilbur Wright Field, Ohio. In 1926, the Air Service became the Air Corps
. In September 1927, Knerr was appointed to command its sole bombardment unit, the 2nd Bombardment Group
, at Langley Field, Virginia
, where he had a profound influence on the development of equipment and tactics that led to the development of strategic bombardment doctrine.
Knerr followed Lt. Col. Henry H. Arnold
as Chief, Field Service Section, Air Corps Materiel Division, at Wright Field
, Ohio, in 1932. Arnold called upon his expertise in both engineering and bomber operations to be his executive officer in July 1934 of a squadron-sized flight from Bolling Field
to Alaska and back, using the new Martin B-10
bomber. Knerr supervised the preparation of the bombers at nearby Patterson Field
and acted as Arnold's second-in-command during the flight. The flight won the MacKay Trophy
for that year, in large part as a result of Knerr's judgment in technical decisions. Arnold, as leader of the flight, won acclaim almost to the exclusion of the other participants, and received an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross
. However, despite Arnold's recommendations that all participants in the flight be recognized with the decoration, only Arnold received it, causing a permanent rift between the two and Knerr's permanent embitterment. Knerr led a faction opposing Arnold's appointment to Chief of Air Corps in September 1938.
On March 2, 1935, Knerr received an assignment promotion (temporary) to colonel when he was made chief of staff of the newly-activated General Headquarters Air Force under Maj. Gen. Frank M. Andrews. After three tumultuous years of political in-fighting with the War Department General Staff over doctrine and the development of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Andrews' staff was purged of its members by Army Chief of Staff
Gen. Malin Craig
in February 1938. Knerr was sent to Fort Sam Houston
, San Antonio, Texas
, as Air Officer, Eighth Corps Area
, where Billy Mitchell (whose theories on air warfare were the basis for the doctrine of strategic bombardment and an Air Force separate from the Army advocated by Knerr) had been exiled 13 years earlier. A stress-induced recurrence of sciatica
linked to a crash in 1923 resulted in forced hospitalization for the remainder of 1938. In January 1939, Knerr was compelled to appear before the Army's retirement board, where its psychiatrist characterized the condition as "psychosomatic." He was retired medically in March 1939. At the same time Andrews, whose advocacy of strategic bombardment and an independent Air Force were as strong as Knerr's, was not reappointed to a second tour as commanding general of GHQ Air Force. Reduced to his permanent rank of colonel, Andrews followed Knerr as Air Officer in San Antonio.
In private life, Knerr went to work for the Sperry Corporation Research Laboratories
, wrote numerous magazine articles advocating his positions, and conducted a letter-writing campaign against Arnold between 1939 and 1941. In the meantime, he was cleared by physicians at Walter Reed Army Hospital
of the previous medical conclusions of the retirement board. Andrews, again a general and commander of the Panama Canal Air Force, asked for Knerr's recall to active duty and assignment to him as his maintenance commander. Arnold, now Chief of the Army Air Forces
, was initially reluctant because of the many public and private criticisms Knerr had made of him, but agreed to the return to active duty in August 1941. However the Army's Surgeon General
, referring to the supposed psychological reasons for his retirement, rejected the reinstatement on medical grounds.
After the United States entered World War II
, Knerr was called back to active duty as a colonel in July 1942. He served as deputy commander of the Air Service Command at Patterson AAB until July 1943, when he was promoted to brigadier general and sent to England
on Arnold's recommendation. At that time the Combined Bomber Offensive
was being hindered by a low rate of aircraft availability because of maintenance and supply problems, and Knerr was sent to re-organize the system. He acted as both Deputy Commanding General and Commanding General of the VIII Service Command, Eighth Air Force
; then from January 1945 as Commander, Air Technical Service Command Europe, which was responsible for all support to both the Eighth and Ninth Air Force
s. Additionally, he was promoted to major general in March 1944, and after the invasion of Europe in June 1944, held the position of Deputy Commander for Administration, U.S. Strategic Air Forces, Europe
in addition to his other duties.
In June 1945 he returned to Wright Field to command the Army Air Forces' Air Technical Service Command
until February 1946. Following the war he transferred to the newly-formed Air Force. Later assignments included serving as a special assistant to U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington
. His retirement was effective as of November 1, 1949.
Awards he received include the Distinguished Service Medal
, the Legion of Merit
, and the Bronze Star Medal
.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Biography
Knerr was born on May 30, 1887 in Fairfield, IowaFairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
. He passed away on October 26, 1971 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Career
Knerr graduated from the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1908 and served as an ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
until 1911. He commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
on September 28, 1911. After seven years service in which he reached the rank of captain, he was detailed to 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...
in January 1918 during 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...
.
For six months Knerr served as an engineering officer at flying training fields in Tennessee and Florida. He was sent to Hawaii in July 1918, where he was Aviation Officer to the Hawaiian Department and commanding officer of Luke Field
Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Ford Island
Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Ford Island was a military use airport on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, United States. Prior to 1962, it was designated as Naval Air Station Ford Island until its downgrade from NAS to NALF...
until July 1919, when he returned to the Coast Artillery during the demobilization following the war.
In February 1922 he was detailed again to 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...
in the grade of major. In February 1924 he formally transferred to the Air Service to qualify for command of the 88th Observation Squadron at Wilbur Wright Field, Ohio. In 1926, the Air Service became the Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. In September 1927, Knerr was appointed to command its sole bombardment unit, the 2nd Bombardment Group
2d Operations Group
The 2d Operations Group is the flying component of the United States Air Force 2d Bomb Wing, assigned to the Air Combat Command Eighth Air Force. The group is stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, at Langley Field, Virginia
Virginia
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...
, where he had a profound influence on the development of equipment and tactics that led to the development of strategic bombardment doctrine.
Knerr followed Lt. Col. Henry H. Arnold
Henry H. Arnold
Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold was an American general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. Arnold was an aviation pioneer, Chief of the Air Corps , Commanding General of the U.S...
as Chief, Field Service Section, Air Corps Materiel Division, at Wright Field
Wright Field
Wright Field was an airfield of the United States Army Air Corps and Air Forces near Riverside, Ohio. From 1927 to 1947 it was the research and development center for the Air Corps, and during World War II a flight test center....
, Ohio, in 1932. Arnold called upon his expertise in both engineering and bomber operations to be his executive officer in July 1934 of a squadron-sized flight from Bolling Field
Bolling Air Force Base
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is a military installation, located in Southeast Washington, D.C., established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
to Alaska and back, using the new Martin B-10
Martin B-10
The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to go into regular use by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934...
bomber. Knerr supervised the preparation of the bombers at nearby Patterson Field
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
and acted as Arnold's second-in-command during the flight. The flight won the MacKay Trophy
MacKay trophy
The Mackay Trophy was established on 27 January 1911 by Clarence Hungerford Mackay, who was then head of the Postal Telegraph-Cable Company and the Commercial Cable Company. Originally, aviators could compete for the trophy annually under rules made each year or the War Department could award the...
for that year, in large part as a result of Knerr's judgment in technical decisions. Arnold, as leader of the flight, won acclaim almost to the exclusion of the other participants, and received an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
. However, despite Arnold's recommendations that all participants in the flight be recognized with the decoration, only Arnold received it, causing a permanent rift between the two and Knerr's permanent embitterment. Knerr led a faction opposing Arnold's appointment to Chief of Air Corps in September 1938.
On March 2, 1935, Knerr received an assignment promotion (temporary) to colonel when he was made chief of staff of the newly-activated General Headquarters Air Force under Maj. Gen. Frank M. Andrews. After three tumultuous years of political in-fighting with the War Department General Staff over doctrine and the development of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Andrews' staff was purged of its members by Army Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...
Gen. Malin Craig
Malin Craig
Malin Craig was a United States Army general.-Biography:Malin Craig was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on August 5, 1875; Graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1898; was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to the 4th Infantry, April 1898;-Spanish American War:Served with the...
in February 1938. Knerr was sent to Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
, San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, as Air Officer, Eighth Corps Area
Corps area
A Corps area was a geographically-based organizational structure of the United States Army used to accomplish domestic administrative, training and tactical tasks from 1920 to 1942. Each corps area included divisions of the Regular Army, Organized Reserve and National Guard of the United States...
, where Billy Mitchell (whose theories on air warfare were the basis for the doctrine of strategic bombardment and an Air Force separate from the Army advocated by Knerr) had been exiled 13 years earlier. A stress-induced recurrence of sciatica
Sciatica
Sciatica is a set of symptoms including pain that may be caused by general compression or irritation of one of five spinal nerve roots that give rise to each sciatic nerve, or by compression or irritation of the left or right or both sciatic nerves. The pain is felt in the lower back, buttock, or...
linked to a crash in 1923 resulted in forced hospitalization for the remainder of 1938. In January 1939, Knerr was compelled to appear before the Army's retirement board, where its psychiatrist characterized the condition as "psychosomatic." He was retired medically in March 1939. At the same time Andrews, whose advocacy of strategic bombardment and an independent Air Force were as strong as Knerr's, was not reappointed to a second tour as commanding general of GHQ Air Force. Reduced to his permanent rank of colonel, Andrews followed Knerr as Air Officer in San Antonio.
In private life, Knerr went to work for the Sperry Corporation Research Laboratories
Sperry Corporation
Sperry Corporation was a major American equipment and electronics company whose existence spanned more than seven decades of the twentieth century...
, wrote numerous magazine articles advocating his positions, and conducted a letter-writing campaign against Arnold between 1939 and 1941. In the meantime, he was cleared by physicians at Walter Reed Army Hospital
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center was the United States Army's flagship medical center until 2011. Located on 113 acres in Washington, D.C., it served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the military...
of the previous medical conclusions of the retirement board. Andrews, again a general and commander of the Panama Canal Air Force, asked for Knerr's recall to active duty and assignment to him as his maintenance commander. Arnold, now Chief of the Army Air Forces
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....
, was initially reluctant because of the many public and private criticisms Knerr had made of him, but agreed to the return to active duty in August 1941. However the Army's Surgeon General
Surgeon General
Surgeon General may refer to:* Surgeon-General * Surgeon General of the United States* State Surgeon General* Surgeon General of the United States Army* Surgeon General of the United States Navy...
, referring to the supposed psychological reasons for his retirement, rejected the reinstatement on medical grounds.
After the United States entered 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...
, Knerr was called back to active duty as a colonel in July 1942. He served as deputy commander of the Air Service Command at Patterson AAB until July 1943, when he was promoted to brigadier general and sent to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on Arnold's recommendation. At that time the Combined Bomber Offensive
Combined Bomber Offensive
The Combined Bomber Offensive was an Anglo-American offensive of strategic bombing during World War II in Europe. The primary portion of the CBO was against German Air Force targets which was the highest priority from June 1943 to 1944...
was being hindered by a low rate of aircraft availability because of maintenance and supply problems, and Knerr was sent to re-organize the system. He acted as both Deputy Commanding General and Commanding General of the VIII Service Command, Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
; then from January 1945 as Commander, Air Technical Service Command Europe, which was responsible for all support to both the Eighth and Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
s. Additionally, he was promoted to major general in March 1944, and after the invasion of Europe in June 1944, held the position of Deputy Commander for Administration, U.S. Strategic Air Forces, Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
in addition to his other duties.
In June 1945 he returned to Wright Field to command the Army Air Forces' Air Technical Service Command
Air Force Logistics Command
Air Force Logistics Command was a United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio...
until February 1946. Following the war he transferred to the newly-formed Air Force. Later assignments included serving as a special assistant to U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington
Stuart Symington
William Stuart Symington was a businessman and political figure from Missouri. He served as the first Secretary of the Air Force from 1947 to 1950 and was a Democratic United States Senator from Missouri from 1953 to 1976.-Education and business career:...
. His retirement was effective as of November 1, 1949.
Awards he received include the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, and the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
.