Joseph Theodore Morris – Brigadier General, United States Air Force

Courtesy of the United States Air Force
Suggested By Russell C. Jacobs, June 2007

BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH T. MORRIS

Died May 21, 1980.

Joseph Theodore Morris was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in 1894. He graduated from high school at Corvallis, Oregon, in 1912 and from Pennsylvania State College with a bachelor of science degree in 1917.

From February to June 1918, General Morris was a private in the Signal Corps. On June 13, 1918, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Air Service in the National Army and became a radio officer with the First Provisional Wing at Mineola, Long Island, New York. In February 1919 he was transferred to March Field, California., as officer in charge of the Ground School. He received his regular commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Service July 1, 1920, and was promoted to first lieutenant the same date.

In December 1920, General Morris became officer in charge of the Air Service Communications School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In July 1922 he was named an instructor at the Air Service Technical School at Chanute Field, Ill. In August 1923 he entered the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, from which he received a master of science degree the following June.

General Morris then was assigned to the 58th Service Squadron at Langley Field, Virginia, and in May 1926 was transferred to Luke Field, Hawaii, as communications officer of the 23rd Bombardment Squadron. In August 1929 he was assigned with the First Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan. Two years later he entered the Air Corps Engineering School at Wright Field, Ohio, from which he graduated in June 1932. He then became chief engineer officer at the Rockwell Air Depot, Coronado, California, and in November 1938 assumed that position at the Sacramento (California) Air Depot.

General Morris entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in January 1940, graduated the following April and became assistant chief of the Maintenance Division of the Air Service Command at Patterson Field, Ohio.

In July 1943, General Morris was appointed commander of the Eighth Air Force Service Command in England. The following January he became chief of maintenance for the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in the European theater. In February 1945 he assumed command of the 12th Air Force Service Command in Italy. In July 1945 he was assigned to command Wright Field, later designated Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

General Morris was appointed commanding general of the Spokane (Washington) Air Depot in April 1952.

General Morris has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre.

He is rated a command pilot, combat observer and aircraft observer.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard