Frank A. Armstrong

Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. (May 24, 1902 – August 20, 1969) was a lieutenant general of the United States Air Force. As a brigadier general in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, he was the inspiration for the main character in the novel and subsequent film, Twelve O'Clock High. After the war, he held a variety of senior leadership positions prior to and following the establishment of the USAF as an independent service in 1947. Promoted to major general in 1950, he advanced to lieutenant general in 1956 and retired at that rank in 1961.

Armstrong commanded two B-17 Flying Fortress groups and a wing each of B-17 and B-29 Superfortresses in combat operations against both Germany and Japan. He personally led the first USAAF strategic bombing attack from England in August 1942, and the last strategic raid on Japan 3 years later. He also led the first attack by the USAAF against a target in Germany.

Early life Armstrong was born in Hamilton, North Carolina. He played minor league professional baseball from 1925 to 1928, after he graduated from Wake Forest College with a law degree in 1923 and a Bachelor of Science degree in 1925.

Armstrong returned to the staff of Bomber Command on September 27, 1942 until January, 1943, when Eaker again used him to rebuild another bomb group performing below standards. From January 4 to February 17, 1943, Armstrong commanded the 306th Bomb Group at RAF Thurleigh, England, and led the first mission by the Eighth Air Force to bomb Nazi Germany. His experiences with the 97th and 306th groups became the basis of Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay Jr.'s novel and film Twelve O'Clock High. While in command of the 306th, Armstrong led the Eighth Air Force on its first mission to attack a target in Germany on January 27, 1943.

Biographers have noted that Armstrong was superstitious about flying. He always entered the B-17 by its rear fuselage door rather than through the nose hatch as most pilots did, and he always carried a pair of his son's baby shoes on all flights, for good luck in combat.

Wing commands On February 8, 1943, Armstrong was promoted to brigadier general, and then assigned command of the newly formed 101st Provisional Combat Wing on February 17, continuing to fly combat missions over Germany. On June 16, 1943, Armstrong was advanced to command of the 1st Bombardment Wing, replacing daylight precision bombardment theorist Haywood S. Hansell, and was himself replaced at the end of July 1943 after being injured in a fire in his quarters.

During his final combat mission in the European Theater of Operations on April 5, 1943, 104 B-17s and B-24s attacked the Erla Works, used by the Luftwaffe for manufacturing and reconditioning Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters, near the Antwerp suburb of Mortsel. The attack caused widespread casualties in the town when the force was subjected to severe air attack during its bombing run and only four bombs hit their intended target. In just eight minutes 936 people were killed, including 209 children under the age of 15 when four schools received direct hits. It was Belgium's worst loss of life in a single incident during the entire war.thumb

Armstrong returned to the United States where he commanded the 46th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (B-17) at Ardmore Army Airfield, Oklahoma (September 10, 1943, to April 6, 1944); and the 17th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (B-29) at Peterson Field, Colorado, and Grand Island Army Airfield, Nebraska (April 7, 1944, to November 7, 1944). When the Manhattan Project was still in its development stage, Armstrong was the leading candidate (along with Colonel Roscoe C. Wilson, the Army Air Force officer providing liaison support to the project) to command the unit designated to drop the atomic bomb. Armstrong's age and his injury in England militated against his selection, however, which eventually went to Tibbets instead.

On November 18, 1944, Armstrong was given command of the 315th Bomb Wing at Peterson Field, Colorado, a B-29 Superfortress wing then in training. Between March 7, 1945, and April 5, 1945, the wing deployed to Northwest Field, Guam on to fly missions against the Home Islands of Japan. On August 15, 1945, Armstrong led the longest and final heavy bombing raid in the war, with the distinction of having led both the first and last USAAF strategic bombing missions of World War II, as well as the first USAAF mission to attack Germany. In November 1945, he flew the first non-stop flight from Japan to Washington, D.C., in a B-29. He received an oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross for each of the above achievements.

USAF service

Armstrong continued his Air Force career following World War II, first becoming chief of staff for operations of the Pacific Air Command on January 18, 1946, and then senior air advisor at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, on September 9, 1946. After creation of the United States Air Force, Armstrong served as deputy commanding general of the Alaskan Air Command at Fort Richardson, Alaska (March 31, 1948), and its commanding general (February 26, 1949, to December 26, 1950). While commander, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Aero Club of Norway, the highest civil award of Norway, for helping develop a non-stop polar air route from Alaska to Norway to New York.

Awards and decorations Source: USAF Historical Study 91: Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers, 1917-1952, Vol. I, "A-K"

Distinguished Service Cross

Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 53 (1943)

CITATION: "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Brigadier General Frank Alton Armstrong, Jr. (ASN: 0-17459/427A), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commander, 97th Bombardment Group (H), TWELFTH Air Force, while personally leading his B-17 Bomber Group in a bombing mission on Antwerp, on 5 April 1943. Approximately 150 enemy fighters attacked the formation, directing their principal and continuous attacks head-on against the lead airplane flown by General Armstrong. The airplane was repeatedly hit by machine gun fire and cannon shells, and badly damaged. Fire broke out in the pilot compartment. The co-pilot, navigator, and other crew members were wounded. The oxygen system was destroyed. With great courage and personal disregard for his own safety General Armstrong relinquished his own emergency oxygen bottle to the co-pilot, divested himself of his parachute, and extinguished the flames. Then, with high resolution and dauntless perseverance he continued to lead his formation forward in the attack, thereby inspiring the entire unit with his personal courage. Upon being informed that his navigator was seriously wounded he relinquished the controls, crawled on his hands and knees, without benefit of oxygen, to his navigator and administered first aid, thereby saving his life. The audacity and courage under fire, and the coolness and skill thus displayed by this officer on this occasion, reflect the highest credit upon him and upon the armed forces of the United States."

Distinguished Service Medal

War Department, General Orders No. 104 (November 15, 1945)

CITATION: "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Frank Alton Armstrong, Jr. (ASN: 0-17459/427A), United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commander, 315th Bomb Wing at Peterson Field, Colorado from November 1944 to August 945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Armstrong and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces."

PUBLIC INFORMASTION DIVISION JULY 13TH 1956 HEADQUARTERS STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND #6-37EP OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE NEBRASKA

HQ SAC OMAH NEBR—Major General Frank A Armstrong Jr USAF was awarded an oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Service Medal Tuesday at Strategic Air Command Headquarters Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska by SAC commander in chief General Curtis E Lemay for outstanding service in a position of exceedingly great responsibility.

The citation accompanying the award said that from May 1951 to July 1956 the superior leadership operational imagination and foresight displayed by General Armstrong as Commander of the 6th Air Division and Second Air Force were vitally significant contributions to the security of the United States Air Force reflecting great credit upon himself his country and the United States Air Force.

Silver Star citation August 1942

For extraordinary achievement in action while leading his group in an attack during daylight August 17, 1942 on the marshalling yard at Rouen-Sotteville France. This was the first daylight heavy bombardment mission against enemy opposition to be flown by the United States Army Air Force in the European Theater of operations. In spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire and fighter plane resistance the bombing of the objective was of the highest order of accuracy. The successful accomplishment of this mission without loss of life or plane reflects the highest degree of credit upon Colonel Armstrong and his military service.

British Distinguished Flying Cross citation July 17, 1943

For service on August 17, 1942 when he led an attack on Rouen France the first daylight raid attack by US forces from the United kingdom which was completed successfully without loss of life or Aircraft.

Oak leaf cluster to Distinguished Flying Cross October 1942

For extraordinary heroism and superior leadership in action over enemy occupied territory in Continental Europe during the period of August 17, 1942 to September 6, 1942. As commanding officer of the 97th Bombardment group colonel Armstrong personally led a total of six bombardment missions against the enemy with a loss of but one aircraft from his group. During these missions his group destroyed six enemy planes. Colonel Armstrong was largely responsible for the success of six missions of vital importance, by the specific act of leading his group in the air on repeated missions during the above period of his own volition, and by his display of tactical skill in controlling his formation so that heavy losses were avoided in spite of concentrated attacks by enemy fighters, and by his resourcefulness and flying leadership in the face of danger.

Second Oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross April 1943

The citation recognized Frank A. Armstrong for his role in reorganizing a heavy bombardment group and preparing its crews and equipment for operations. It also credited him with contributing to the development of high-altitude daylight precision bombing missions against targets in enemy territory during World War II. Armstrong personally led several bombing missions against heavily defended objectives in Europe while sustaining limited aircraft losses. The citation further stated that his leadership and service were regarded as an inspiration to his personnel and reflected credit upon the United States Armed Forces.

Air Medal January 1943

For extraordinary meritorious achievement while serving as a pilot of a B17 airplane on five Aerial combat missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe 17 August 19 August 20 August 21 August and 24 August 1942. The Courage and skill displayed by colonel Armstrong upon these occasions reflect highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.

Legacy

His papers (including correspondence, memoirs, reports, flight records, flight log, and speeches) were donated to the East Carolina Manuscript Collection in Joyner Library at East Carolina University.