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Henry H. 'Hap' Arnold

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Military Personnel

The Resume

    (June 25, 1886-January 15, 1950)
    Born in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
    Member of the first group of 24 rated military aviators (1913)
    Commanding general of the US Army Air Corps (1938-41), US Army Air Forces (1941-47), and US Air Force (1947-50)

Why he might be annoying:

    He had wanted to join the cavalry, but mediocre grades and a history of pranks at West Point relegated him to the infantry.
    He developed a fear of flying after several early crashes.
    His support for the outspoken Billy Mitchell resulted in several 'exiles' to remote postings.
    He disliked one posting, as an instructor at Ft. Leavenworth, so much that, on graduation day, he had his wife and children wait in the family car with the motor running so they leave the instant the ceremony was over.
    An aide said, 'His idea of a good time was to work all day in his office.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He received flying lessons from the Wright Brothers.
    He was a stunt pilot in silent films.
    He set four altitude records (1911-12).
    He overcame his fear of flying.
    He was offered the presidency of Pan Am, but opted to stay with the Air Corps.
    He oversaw a hundred-fold expansion in the size of America's air forces during World War II.
    He was the only Air Force general to hold five-star rank, and the only general to hold five-star rank in two different military services.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 19 Votes: 10.53% Annoying