Arnold, Henry H. (Hap) (1886–1950)
Commander of the United States Army Air Forces in World War II, and the
only air commander ever to attain the five-star rank of general of the armies.
Arnold was especially interested in the development of sophisticated aerospace
technology to give America an edge in air superiority, and consequently
helped foster the development of such innovations as jet aircraft, rocketry,
rocket-assisted takeoff, and supersonic flight. After a lengthy career as
an Army aviator and commander spanning the two world wars, he retired from
active service in 1945 but continued to urge that the United States should
develop a postwar deterrent force that included long-range ballistic missiles,
developed from the V-2, rather than short-range
guided missiles. References
- Arnold, Henry H. Global Mission. New York: Harper & Brothers,
1949.
- Coffey, Thomas M. Hap: The Story of the U.S. Air Force and the
Man Who Built It. New York: Viking, 1982.
- DuPre, Flint O. Hap Arnold: Architect of American Air Power.
New York: Macmillan, 1972.
Related entry
• guided
missiles, postwar development Related category
• AEROSPACE
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