In the decade of demobilization and disarmament after the war, he was one of the apostles of strategic air power, following the lead of General William (“Billy”) Mitchell. Location. Henry Harley, Hap's namesake and great-great-grandfather, had been a private in the Pennsylvania militia. Topics. Copp, DeWitt S., A few great captains: the men and events that shaped the development of U.S. air power, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1980; McLean, Va.: EPM Publications, 1989. It is hard to find anyone—at least since the days of George Washington and John Paul Jones—who is more universally admired, even revered, within their own service than Arnold is within the U.S. Air Force. All Rights Reserved. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1907 and joined the infantry. Henry Harley Arnold Henry Harley Arnold (1886-1950) was one of America's first military aviators. S, Military Academy 1940 Artillery Officer. Updates? Learn about Author Central. The Army, however, retained control of the Army Air Corps, as its air arm was then called, and in 1938 Arnold became chief of the corps. Henry Arnold was born on June 25, 1886, in Gladwyne, Pa. Henry Harley Arnold was not supposed to enter the Army. In Africa in 1942-1943 Aide de Camp to General Eisenhower. Title Henry Harley Arnold papers, Summary Correspondence, memoranda, journals, notebooks, drafts and proofs of Arnold's memoirs, Global Mission (1949), articles, speeches, reports, orders, printed material, photographs, and other papers relating chiefly to the development of military aeronautics in the United States and to aeronautical policies and events of World War II. This Military Service Page was created/owned by MAJ Mark E Cooper to remember Arnold, Henry Harley (HAP), Gen5 USAF(Ret). Arnold won the Mackay Trophy again in 1934 when he commanded a flight of ten Martin B-10 bombers from Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., to Fairbanks, Alaska, and back. Prior to and all during World War II, he directed air activities for the nation's global war against Germany and Japan. Hap Arnold's name is perpetuated at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex at Arnold AFB, Tenn. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1907, Arnold served in the infantry and then transferred to the aeronautical section of the Signal Corps, receiving his flying instruction in 1911 from Orville Wright. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. Arnold, Henry Harley, 1886–1950, American general, chief of the U.S. Army Air Forces (1942–46), known as Hap Arnold, B. Gladwyne, Pa., grad. He trained in flying under the Wright Brothers and became one of the first military pilots in the world. Henry Harley Arnold (born at Gladwyne, PA on June 25, 1886) had a military career peppered with many successes and few failures. Honored by: Col. Pat M. Stevens, III. Are you an author? On May 7, 1949 Hap Arnold was appointed the first general of the Air Force, five-star rank, by the U.S. Congress. The UCLA Library Digital Collections includes rare and unique digital materials developed by the UCLA Library to support education, research, service, and creative expression. West Point, 1907. Omissions? Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Arnold was born in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, on June 25, 1886. In these capacities he was an influential architect of the plans and strategy that resulted in Allied victory. This website is our new interface for discovery and engagement of these collections. He encouraged development of the "flying fortress," a bomber able to defend itself from enemy fighters and to drop bombs with pinpoint accuracy on industrial targets. Lieutenant Arnold went on to have a successful career in military aviation. He also served as air representative on the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and on the Anglo-American Combined Chiefs of Staff. He believed that air power had made mass armies and navies obsolete. During World War II he served as commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Forces. Henry Arnold was born on June 25, 1886, in Gladwyne, Pa. Son of General of the Air Force Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold, Sr. Fred Dienes was the plot owner. When the War Department General Staff was organized in March 1942 Arnold became commanding general of Army Air Forces. Arnold wrote two books, both with Ira C. Eaker, giving his view on air power: This Flying Game (1936) and Winged Warfare (1941). His older brother, Thomas, was to attend West Point and continue the Arnold family tradition of American military service that began during the War for Independence. Henry Harley Arnold, byname Hap Arnold, (born June 25, 1886, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died January 15, 1950, Sonoma, California), air strategist, commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed ), memorial page for Henry Harley “Hap” Arnold (25 Jun 1886–15 Jan 1950), Find a Grave Memorial no. Arnold reported to Washington, D.C., in 1936 as assistant chief of the Army Air Corps. Graduated U. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Many of those who served with him in World War II, however, learned that he was impatient, had a temper and could express his displeasure magnificently. During World War II, Arnold commanded the U.S. Army Air Forces throughout the world. Born June 25, 1886, in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, Arnold was the son of Dr. Herbert Alonzo Arnold (1857–1933), a strong-willed physician and a member of the prominent political and military Arnold Family. Son of General of the Air Force Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold, Sr. Fred Dienes was the plot owner. See search results for this author. General of the Army Henry Harley Arnold, United States Army Air Forces. Coffey, Thomas M., HAP: the story of the U.S. Air Force and the man who built it, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, New York: Viking Press, 1982. Henry Harley Arnold General of the Army Commanding General United States Air Force World War II Born June 25, 1886 on this site Erected 1950 by The Lower Merion Historical Society. In 1931 he was appointed commanding officer at March Field, California, where he worked on the organization and tactics that were to be employed in World War II. Henry Harley Arnold (Author) 4.6 out of 5 stars 14 ratings. Arnold received a public education and in 1903 entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE. Henry Harley Arnold, byname Hap Arnold, (born June 25, 1886, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died January 15, 1950, Sonoma, California), air strategist, commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II. See collections of historic photographs and manuscripts. In December 1944 he was one of four army leaders promoted to the five-star rank of general of the army. Born in California 17 January 1929. Inscription: Married October 27, 1968. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Arnold had long planned and advocated that the air forces should have parity with the army and navy in the American military establishment. His autobiography, Global Mission (1949), includes a history of American military aviation. The creation of the National Defense Act of 1947, which authorized this organization, was undoubtedly due in no small measure to Arnold’s effort and influence. He became chief of staff of the Army Air Forces in World War II and was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Air Force. Henry Harley Arnold was one of the most prominent American officer who held the rank of both the General of the Army and the General of the Air Force. Colonel Henry Harley Arnold, Jr. Wall of Honor Location: Foil: 1 Panel: 3 Column: 4 Line: 84 . Corrections? ed. Search millions of objects in the collections including photographs, artworks, artifacts, scientific specimens, manuscripts, sound records, and transcripts. Wall of Honor Level: Air and Space Friend. Home; Books; Search; Support. Contributor: C. Peter Chen ww2dbase Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold was born in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, United States to a physician who also served in the National Guard (a reserve military force of the United States). The collection is large and contains material on almost all aspects of Arnold's adult life. Arnold retired in 1946; a year later, owing largely to his efforts, the U.S. Air Force became an independent service. Anticipating the coming global conflict, Arnold strongly pressed for increased Air Corps appropriations and aid to the Allies, despite the hostility of isolationists and shortsighted officers in the military. Alternate spellings: Henry Harley Arnold, Hap Arnold, Henry Arnold. He became chief of staff of the Army Air Forces in World War IIand was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Air Force. He retired from service in 1946, and in 1949 his title was changed to general of the air force; he was the only air commander ever to attain the rank of five stars. More collections added weekly. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Henry Harley Arnold (1886-1950) was one of America's first military aviators. Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold (June 25, 1886 – January 15, 1950) was an American general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. In his final report he warned that within 30 years the United States would need 3,000-mile-an-hour robot atom bombs, launched from space ships "operating outside the earth's atmosphere." When his superior, General Oscar Westover, was killed in a plane crash in 1938, Arnold succeeded him as chief. How-To Tutorials; Suggestions; Machine Translation Editions; Noahs Archive Project; About Us. His mother was Anna Louise (\"Gangy\") Harley (1857–1931), from a \"Dunker\" farm family and the first female in her family to attend high school. For the military history of the war see J.F.C. Arnold was Baptist in religious belief, but had strong Mennonite ties through both families. He died at his ranch home, Valley of the Moon, near Sonoma, Calif., Jan. 15, 1950. When Henry Harley Arnold was born on 29 January 1917, in San Diego, San Diego, California, United States, his father, Henry Harley Arnold, was 30 and his mother, Eleanor Alexander Pool, was 29. Fuller, The Second World War, 1939-1945 (1948; rev. During World War I he rose from captain to colonel and was eventually the executive officer to the chief of the air service. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Henry Arnold was born on June 25, 1886, in Gladwyne, Pa. About Col Henry Harley Arnold, Jr Graduated from the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1939. Photograph size: 9x12 inches | Ready to frame in any standard size frame | Frame Not Included | Archival Quality Reproduction | Photograph Description: Gen. Henry Harley 'Hap' Arnold seated at desk, in his Munitions Building office photo by U.S. Army Signal Corps. He became chief of staff of the Army Air Forces in World War II and was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Air Force. Henry Harley Arnold, commonly known as “Hap,” was a champion of air power in the years between the World Wars. 1954); Kent Roberts Greenfield, American Strategy in World War II: A Reconsideration (1963); and Basil Collier, The Second World War: A Military History (1967). Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. Title Funeral of Air Force Gen. Henry Harley ("Hap") Arnold Summary Photographs show the funeral in Washington, D.C.; honor guards at the airport and at National Cathedral (exterior of the cathedral and the St. Joseph of Arimathee and Bethlehem Chapels); procession with caisson and caparisoned horse; services at Arlington National Cemetery amphitheater; floral tributes. 38, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave . He believed that air power would be the decisive weapon in the next war and thought that the airplane, especially the heavy bomber, should not be shackled to the Army. Arnold also saw to the development of the type of air force he wanted. He married Dorothy Maud Bell in 1968. English: Henry H. Arnold (1886–1950) was an American general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. Between the wars he was a vigorous advocate of air power and an active supporter of Billy Mitchell's attempt to create an independent air force. The best source on Arnold is his memoir, Global Mission (1949). Early in 1911 he went to Dayton, Ohio, to take flying lessons from Orville and Wilbur Wright and later that year earned the twenty-ninth pilot's license issued in the United States. Date Created Published: between 1942 and 1949 Subjects: Arnold, Henry Harley,--1886-1950--Military service. Henry Harley Arnold (Author) › Visit Amazon's Henry Harley Arnold Page. He died January 15, 1950 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He died of a heart attack on Jan. 15, 1950. (U.S. Air Force) Arnold, Henry Harley (25 June 1886–15 January 1950), airman, was born in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, the son of Herbert Alonzo Arnold, a physician, and Anna Louise Harley. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Assigned (1911) to the aviation division of the Signal Corps, Arnold later served almost entirely with the air arm. Henry Harley Arnold (1886-1950) was one of America's first military aviators. Arnold, Henry Harley “Hap”, born June 25-06-1886, in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, the son of Dr. Herbert Alonzo Arnold (1857–1933), a strong-willed physician and a member of the prominent political and military Arnold Family. In 1916 he joined the Aviation Section of the Army Signal Corps and during World War I served as commander of the 7th Aero Squadron in Panama. Listen today about new interesting topic - Henry Harley Arnold. Henry Harley Arnold — known as Hap Arnold — is the founding father of of the U.S. Air Force. He was the only officer to ever hold the rank of General of the Air Force. There is no satisfactory biography, although a complete account of Arnold's activities as chief of staff of the Army Air Forces is in the official The Army Air Forces in World War II, edited by Wesley Frank Craven and James L. Cate (7 vols., 1948-1958). Arnold did not get all that he wanted, but in March 1942 the corps became the Army Air Forces and he became the chief of staff. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1907 and joined the infantry. His mother was Anna Louise (“Gangy”)[4] Harley (1857–1931), from a “Dunker” farm family and the first female in her family to attend high school. His name was Henry Harley Arnold, but his friends called him ‘Hap’ because of that ever-pleasant expression. Became "chief of the Army Air Forces on June 30, 1941, and that December he got a third star. His favorite maxim, "A second-best air force is like a second-best hand in poker—it's no good at all," had led to the creation of the world's most powerful air force. Although technically his organization remained subordinate to the Army, it was actually independent, a fact underscored by Arnold's place as an equal on the Combined Chiefs of Staff (the agency composed of the American and British heads of service) and his promotion to five-star general. Arnold maintained that strategic bombing—the selective destruction of key industries—would force an enemy to an early surrender, even without physical occupation of the country. In 1941 he published, in collaboration with Colonel (later General) Ira C. Eaker, a book entitled Winged Warfare. The papers of Henry Harley Arnold (1886-1950) span the years 1903 to 1967, with the bulk of the items concentrated in the years of World War II (1940-1946). Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold (June 25, 1886 – January 15, 1950) was an American general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Harley-Arnold, National Aviation Hall of Fame - Biography of Henry “Hap” Arnold, Military History Encyclopedia on the Web - Biography of General Henry Harley Arnold.