George Marshall, facing imminent war, acted decisively to free airpower from the Staff’s obstruction and delaying tactics. The First Air Staff

By Herman S. Wolk

IXTY years ago this month, the Army created the Army Air Forces. With that critical June 1941 action came the Sestablishment of the first American Air Staff. That staff reported directly to a new AAF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Henry H. Arnold. All were momentous steps in development of airpower. Creation of the Air Staff stemmed from apprehension about general

Principals in establishing the Air Staff, Maj. Gen. H.H. Arnold and Gen. George C. Marshall are shown here at Randolph Field, Tex.

66 AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2001 USAF photo

President Roosevelt—here at an airfield in Sicily talking with Arnold— believed the US had to gear up for war. He sought a huge increase in military aircraft and pilots.

wars in Europe and Asia—events expansion plan, envisioning produc- made the airman assistant chief of that sparked calls for an expansion tion each year of 12,000 new pilots staff for operations and training, the of airpower and reorganization of and 54 combat-ready groups. first airman ever to serve in this the Army air element. Particularly position. Subsequently, when Mar- disturbing to Arnold and President The Eye-Opener shall became Army Chief of Staff, Roosevelt was the role the Marshall, subsequently promoted he named Andrews to positions of German air force played in the de- to Army Chief of Staff, shared Roos- theater command in the Caribbean feat of France in 1940. FDR declared, evelt’s concern and, moreover, agreed and the Middle East and as com- “Military aviation is increasing at an with Arnold that the Air Corps re- manding general of US forces in the unprecedented and alarming rate.” quired a stronger ability to plan for European theater. Tragically, in May Consequently, he and Congress expansion. The Air Corps had found 1943, Andrews was killed in an air- sought a huge increase in American an invaluable ally in the struggle for plane crash in Iceland, cutting short aircraft and pilots. a more powerful air force. In 1938, a brilliant career of one of the nation’s Even before the outbreak of war, Maj. Gen. Frank M. Andrews, then most distinguished airmen. Roosevelt was much concerned about commanding General Headquarters The ’s performance in America’s lack of preparedness. In Air Force, had taken Marshall on a Europe in 1940 increased Congres- 1938, he sent his confidante, Harry nine-day tour of air bases, inspect- sional pressure for the creation of a Hopkins, on an inspection of US air- ing units and meeting senior Air separate Air Force, but Arnold was craft plants. Hopkins claimed Roos- Corps commanders as well as visit- convinced that this was not the right evelt “was sure we were going to get ing the Boeing plant in Seattle. time to divide the air arm from the into war, and he believed that air- Marshall and Andrews struck a close rest of the Army. Marshall and Arnold power would win it.” relationship. Later, Marshall said this needed a rapid, efficient expansion Shortly thereafter, an airplane tour had opened his eyes to what air of the Air Corps itself to prepare for crash claimed the life of Maj. Gen. forces could do and what they re- the possibility of war. Arnold em- Oscar Westover, Chief of the Army quired. He quickly determined that phasized in 1940 that “right at this Air Corps. Hopkins, who had the ear airmen best knew how to run the Air minute it looks to me as if it might be of the President, suggested he ap- Corps and make it work. a serious mistake to change the ex- point Arnold to the post, which On this cross-country trip, Andrews isting setup when we are all using Roosevelt did in September 1938. had taken the opportunity to make every facili