Frank Alton Armstrong, Jr. Lieutenant General, United States Air Force |
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| Courtesy
of the United States Air Force
LIEUTENANT GENERAL FRANK A. ARMSTRONG JR.
Frank Alton Armstrong Jr., was born at Hamilton, North Carolina, in 1902. He graduated from Wake Forest College in 1923 with a bachelor of laws degree. Two years later he received a bachelor of science degree from Wake Forest. He began military service in February 1928 when he enlisted as a flying cadet at Nashville, North Carolina. He received primary training at Brooks Field, Texas and advanced training at Kelly Field, Texas. He received his pilot's wings in March 1929 and today is a command pilot with around 11,000 flying hours. He has flown the B-47 Stratojet in addition to many types of conventional aircraft. Lieutenant Armstrong's first assignment after Kelly Field was with the Second Bombardment Group at Langley Field, Virginia. The lieutenant returned to Kelly Field in 1930 to attend the Flying Instructors' School and then went to March Field, California, as a flying instructor. In 1931 he transferred to Randolph Field, Texas where he continued his flying instruction duties. In 1934, Lieutenant Armstrong received special navigation and instrument flying training at Rockwell Field, California, before he became a chief pilot with the Air Corps mail operations at Salt Lake City, Utah. His first overseas tour was with the 78th Pursuit Squadron at Albrook Field, Canal Zone. Other pre-World War II assignments were: commander of the 13th Bombardment Squadron at Barksdale Field, Louisiana, a student at the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama a military observer in England; with the 90th Bombardment Squadron at Savannah, Georgia, Air Base; and duty at Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Early in 1942, Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong went to England to become the operations officer for the Eighth Bomber Command. After promotion to colonel during the same year, he became a bombardment group commander and a wing commander. Colonel Armstrong led the first daylight raid ever made by the U.S. Army Air Force over Axis territory. This raid over Rouen-Cotteville, France blasted the target without loss of life or aircraft. For this operation Colonel Armstrong received the Silver Star and an oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross. (He had received the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1936 for the landing of a twin-engine amphibian after one engine had exploded). He was also awarded the British Flying Cross for the Rouen-Cotteville raid, the first United States officer to be so honored. Early in 1943, Brigadier General Armstrong led the group over Wilhelmshaven in the first heavy bomber raid over Germany proper. The B-17 experiences during this time became the basis of Bierne Lay Jr. and Sy Bartlett's book and movie "Twelve O'Clock High". He returned to the United States in August 1943 and commanded bombardment training wings at Dalhart, Texas and ColoradoSprings, Colo. He then headed the 315th Bomb Wing at Peterson Field, Colorado. Brigadier General Armstrong's stay in the United States was of short duration. By mid-year 1945 he went to the Pacific where he took command of the same bomb wing that he trained at Peterson Field. During the summer of 1945 he flew numerous missions over oil targets in Japan. In August he flew from Guam to Honshu, the longest and last very heavy bombing raid in the war, without bomb-bay tanks and with an extremely heavy bomb load. In November 1945, he led the first non-stop flight from Hokkaido, Japan, to Washington, D.C., in a Boeing B-29 bomber. He was awarded an oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross for each of the above achievements. With World War II ended, Brigadier General Armstrong could look back on many significant achievements he had made during this worldwide conflict. He had served in both theaters. He personally led the first and last heavy bombing raids of World War II. Early in 1946, he became the Pacific Air Command chief of staff for operations and later that year he returned to the United States to become senior air instructor at the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia. Early in 1949, Brigadier General Armstrong began the first of two tours in Alaska. He headed the Alaskan Air Command. In addition to increasing the combat capabilities of the Air Forces in Alaska, he pioneered (with other members of the Alaskan Air Command) an air route non-stop from Alaska to Norway, and from Norway to New York. Following the flight to Norway, he received the Gold Medal of the Aero Club of Norway, the highest civil award of that country. Early in 1950, Armstrong was promoted to major general and a year later returned to the United States to command Sampson Air Force Base, New York. He was commended for the harmonious relationship established between the base and surrounding civil communities in the trying period of base activation. Later in 1951, Major General Armstrong became commanding general of the Sixth Air Division at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, trained and equipped the Air Force's first B-47 Stratojet Wing. The general in late 1952 commanded Strategic Air Command's Second Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He held this position for almost four years. In July 1956, Major General Armstrong returned to Alaska to again head the Alaskan Air Command. Two months later, he became commander in chief, Alaska, was promoted to lieutenant general and now heads the unified Alaskan Command with headquarters at Elmendorf Air Force Base. INTERESTS: Has extensive collections of rifles and shotguns; has collection of big game trophies to prove that he is a big game hunter; is better than average golfer, shooting in the low 80's; likes to fish, particularly trout fishing; likes all types of spectator sports, too; often attends championship boxing matches; fond of all pets; has dogs around the house and is particularly proud of "Miss Bourbon" a highly trained black French poodle. During his early officer career, he coached the basketball team at Centenary College. He played professional baseball for three years prior to entering the service. He was offered a contract to play first base for the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern Association, and still maintains keen interest in baseball. He recently instructed a Little League youngster in playing first base. Has a deep religious feeling; attends base church services regularly; is fully cognizant of civic responsibilities, knows personally all Alaskans of importance; is philanthropic and helps the underprivileged. OPINIONS, TASTES, AND EVALUATIONS: Prefers southern cooking, likes a breakfast of Smithfield ham, eggs, grits and spoon bread; likes steaks for dinner, but often patronizes French and Spanish restaurants; prefers dark colors for civilian dress; wears charcoal and brown; friends say he resembles Calvert's "Man of Distinction." Is an avid reader, with taste ranging from ponderous biographies to paperback novels; likes semi-classical and occasional jazz music; has a large collection of records for Hi Fi; watches television, prefers western adventures and sport programs; is interested in photography, both still and motion picture; enjoys the legitimate stage as well as movies; is a patron of music and arts; travels extensively, prefers the hustle of a big city to rural scenery; paradoxically likes the rugged scenery of Alaska. In foreign travels, he prefers visits to European cities Has a firm belief in Alaska as a logical place for possible offensive air operations; is not given to the use of bromides or cliches; has ready answers but is a man of few words. For example at a recent press interview he was asked how it felt to be so near to the U.S.S.R. His quick reply was "We're not jumpy." Stress loyalty and sincerity; delegates with authorities and backs his staff officers to the hilt; is not a nit picker and rarely changes correspondence that covers his general ideas; is a thinker and not a talker; is readily accessible but dislikes lengthy conversations; his orders are always clear-cut and to the point. "When things get tough I'd rather have Frank
Armstrong running the show than any officer I've ever known. Cucumbers
could take lessons in coolness from him" is the way one person spoke of
him. One of his colleagues said, "he doesn't know the meaning of the word
excited."
EDUCATION: 1923 Wake Forest College, North Carolina., with an bachelor of laws degree 925 Wake Forest College, North Carolina, with a bachelor of science 1928 Primary Flight Training, Brooks Field 1929 Advanced Flight School, Kelly Field 1930 Flying Instructors' School, Kelly Field 1939 Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell, Field 1947 Armed Forces Staff College SERVICE DATES: 1. Feb. 1928 - March 1929 Flying School at
Brooks and Kelly fields, Texas
DECORATIONS AND MEDALS:
UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES: General Armstrong personally led first and last heavy bomber raids of World War II. The first raid was over Rouen-Cotteville, France. The last raid was over Honshu, Japan. He also led his group over Wilhelmshaven in the first heavy bomber raid over Germany proper. His mission in the Pacific was "destroy ten different oil refineries," a mission he carried out effectively. In 1936 while a captain stationed at Albrook Field, Canal Zone, General Armstrong was piloting a Douglas amphibian (OA-4A). During the flight an engine exploded, but by skillful handling he landed the aircraft safely on a small strip located on the Mala peninsula. Following his death on September 1, 1969, General
Armstrong was buried in Section 34 of Arlington National Cemetery with
full military honors.
Photo Courtesy of Russell C. Jacobs, January 2006 ARMSTRONG, FRANK A LTG USAF VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown DATE OF BIRTH: 05/24/1902 DATE OF DEATH: 08/20/1969 DATE OF INTERMENT: 08/25/1969 BURIED AT: SECTION 34 SITE 13-A ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY Posted: 22 August 2000 Updated: 7 September 2004 Updated: 26 November 2005 Updated: 28 January 2006 |
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