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Frank Alton Armstrong, Jr. was a brigadier general in the United States Army Air Forces and the inspiration for the main character in the novel and subsequent film, Twelve O'Clock High. Image File history File links Waricon. ... Seal of the United States Department of Defense. ... Image File history File links Waricon. ... The United States Army Air Forces, or USAAF, was a part of the U.S. military during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... Twelve OClock High is a 1949 film about the U. S. Army Air Force crews who flew daylight bombing missions against Germany and occupied France during World War II. It stars Gregory Peck as Brigadier General Frank Savage, Gary Merrill as Colonel Keith Davenport, Millard Mitchell as General Ben...

Armstrong was born on May 24, 1902, in Hamilton, North Carolina. He was part Cherokee Native American, and played minor league professional baseball from 1925 to 1928 after graduating from Wake Forest College with a law degree in 1923, and a Bachelor of Science degree in 1925. May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Hamilton is a town located in Martin County, North Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 28th 139,509 km² 805 km 240 km 9. ... For other uses, see Cherokee (disambiguation). ... Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Amerindians, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... Baseball is a team sport in which a player on one team (the pitcher) attempts to throw a hard, fist-sized ball at a player on the other team (the batter), who attempts to hit the baseball with a tapered, smooth, cylindrical bat that can be made out of either... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Wake Forest University is a private university that is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and is known for its programs in the liberal arts. ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

He enlisted as a flying cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps in February, 1928 and received his flight training at Brooks Field and Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas. He received his wings and officer's commission in March, 1929. His first assignment was to the 2nd Bombardment Group at Langley Field, Virginia, where he married Vernelle Lloyd Hudson on March 15, 1929. In 1930 he became a flight instructor at March Field, Riverside, California, and in 1931 at Randolph Field, San Antonio. Brooks Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located in San Antonio, Texas. ... Kelly Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located in San Antonio, Texas. ... Nickname: Alamo City Official website: www. ... Official language(s) None. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Langley Air Force Base is located at , in Hampton, Virginia is home of Air Combat Command. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 320 km 690 km 7. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... March Air Reserve Base (IATA: RIV, ICAO: KRIV) is a base of the U.S. Air Force Reserve located in Riverside County, California, between the cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley. ... Riverside is the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 3rd 158,302 sq mi  410,000 km² 250 miles  402. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... Randolph Field Historic District is a National Historic Landmark located at the center of Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. ...

In March, 1934 he was one of a group of Army pilots placed under the command of Captain Ira Eaker in Salt Lake City, Utah, to fly the mail during Air Mail Scandal, a bitter embarassment for the Air Corps. He was assigned in December 1934 as a pursuit pilot at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone. In 1936 Captain Armstrong won the Distinguished Flying Cross in peacetime by skillfully landing an amphibian airplane whose engine had exploded. In March 1937 he transferred to the 13th Bombardment Squadron, Barksdale Field, Louisiana where he became its commander from November, 1939 to November, 1940. 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Life Magazine, November 29, 1943. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Salt Lake Citys top tourist draw. ... Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 13th 219,887 km² 435 km 565 km 3. ... Postbox redirects here. ... The Air Mail Scandal is the name that the American press of the 1930s gave to the results of a meeting (the so-called Spoils Conference) of Postmaster General Walter Folger Brown and the executives of the top airlines, effectively dividing among them the air mail routes, and to the... An A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-86 Sabre, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang fly in formation during an air show at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. ... The Panama Canal Zone was a 553 mile² (1,432 km²) territory inside of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area extending 5 mi (8. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.) is a decoration for courage shown in air combat. ... Orders Subclass Labyrinthodontia- extinct Subclass Lepospondyli- extinct Subclass Lissamphibia   Anura   Caudata   Gymnophiona Amphibians (class Amphibia) are a taxon of animals that include all tetrapods (four-legged vertebrates) that do not have amniotic eggs. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States military base near Bossier City, Louisiana. ... Official language(s) English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last census; probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 31st 134,382 km² 210 km 610 km 16 29°N to 33°N 89°W to 94°W Population... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ...

From November, 1940 to February, 1941 Armstrong was a combat observer with the Royal Air Force in England, then returned to command the 90th Bombardment Squadron, Savannah AAF, Georgia. Lt.Col. Armstrong was the Assistant Chief of Operations (A-3) at Army Air Forces headquarters in Washington D.C. when he was selected on January 24, 1942 to go with General Eaker to England with five other officers to establish the VIII Bomber Command, Eighth Air Force, where he became its operations officer and was promoted to colonel. For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1941 calendar). ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st... Nickname: The Coastal Empire or The Hostess City Official website: Savannah, Georgia Location Government County Chatham Mayor Otis S. Johnson Geographical characteristics Area Total 202. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force (NAF) of the major command (MAJCOM) of Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force and it is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. ... Colonel is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with the corresponding ranks existing in nearly every country in the world. ...

As a "trouble-shooter" for General Eaker, on July 31, 1942, Armstrong relieved the commander of the inadequately-trained 97th Bomb Group, the first group of B-17 bombers sent to England, and put it through an intensive training period at RAF Polebrook. He then led it in combat on five of its first 12 missions from August 17 to September 27, 1942. Colonel Armstrong led the first daylight raid ever made by the U.S. Army Air Force over Axis territory, receiving the the Silver Star and an oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross for the initial mission, the first U.S. officer to be so honored. Because he had not yet been checked out as a combat pilot in the B-17, Armstrong led the first mission as a co-pilot on a bomber piloted by Major Paul W. Tibbets. A B_17 nicknamed Sally B in England in 2001 The B_17 Flying Fortress was the first mass_produced, four_engine heavy bomber. ... RAF Polebrook is a former World War II airfield Located 3. ... The Silver Star is a United States military decoration and is the third highest medal for valor. ... Bronze and Silver oak leaf clusters An Oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on military awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. ... UK DFC medal The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdoms Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations...

Armstrong returned to the staff of Bomber Command and in January, 1943, was again used by Eaker to rebuild abomb group performing well below standards. From January 4 to February 17, 1943, Armstrong commanded the 306th Bomb Group at Thurleigh, England, and led the first mission by the Eighth Air Force to bomb Nazi Germany. His experiences with the 306th became the basis of Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay Jr.'s novel and film Twelve O'Clock High. 1943 (MCMXLIII) is a common year starting on Friday. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Sy Bartlett was a U.S. author and screenwriter/producer of Hollywood films. ...

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.

On February 17, 1942, Armstrong was promoted to brigadier general and made commander of the temporary "101st Provisional Combat Wing", continuing to fly combat missions over German. In June he became the first commander of the new 1st Bombardment Wing and was replace at the end of July, 1943 after being injured in a fire in his quarters. General Armstrong returned to the United States and commanded B-17 training wings at Dalhart, Texas; Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. February 17 is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... Dalhart is a city located in Texas. ... Official language(s) None. ... Ardmore is the name of several localities around the world: Canada: Ardmore, Alberta Ardmore, British Columbia Ardmore Beach, Ontario Ardmore, Saskatchewan Ireland: Ardmore in County Waterford, Republic of Ireland New Zealand: Ardmore, New Zealand United States of America: Ardmore, Oklahoma Ardmore, Pennsylvania Ardmore, Tennessee This is a disambiguation page — a... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 20th 181,196 km² 355 km 645 km 1. ... Nickname: The Springs Motto: Official website: http://www. ...

In November, 1944, General Armstrong was assigned command of the B-29 315th Bomb Wing, Peterson Field, Colorado Springs. After training for six months, the wing deployed to Guam in May, 1945 to fly missions against the Home Islands of Japan. On August 15, 1945, General 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. 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. 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress (Boeing Model 341/345) was a four-engine heavy bomber flown by the United States Army Air Force. ... Peterson Air Force Base (Peterson AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located in El Paso County, Colorado near Colorado Springs. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... The Home Islands refers to the four main islands of Japan: Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... Nickname: the District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Official website: http://www. ...

Armstrong remained in the Air Force after World War II, first becoming chief of staff for operations of the Pacific Air Command, and then senior air instructor at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. In 1949 he was appointed commander of the Alaskan Air Command. 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. Emblem of the U.S. Air Forces Pacific The United States Pacific Air Forces (USPACAF or PACAF) is one of nine major U.S. Air Force commands and one of two located outside the continental United States, the other being U.S. Air Forces Europe. ... Nickname: Motto: Crescas (Latin for, Thou shalt grow. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 320 km 690 km 7. ... The Alaskan Air Command (AAC) was set up to provide an early warning of an aerial attack on the United States and Canada. ...

In 1950 Armstrong was promoted to major general and base commander of Sampson Air Force Base, N.Y. In 1951 he was made commanding general of the Sixth Air Division, training the first B-47 Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and in 1952, commander of the Second Air Force (Strategic Air Command) at Barksdale Air Force Base, a post he held for four years. His final posting was in July, 1956, again as head of the Alaskan Air Command, and upon his promotion to lieutenant general, as commander of the joint Alaskan Command. He retired July 31, 1962. Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... The Boeing B-47 Stratojet jet bomber was a major postwar innovation in combat jet design, and it helped lead to the development of modern jet airliners. ... MacDill Air Force Base Emblem showing a KC-135 Stratotanker of the 6th Air Mobility wing with the Tampa Skyline and Gasparilla ship in the background. ... SAC shield The Strategic Air Command or SAC (1946-1992) was the branch of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal, as well as the infrastructure necessary to support their operations (such as tanker aircraft to fuel the... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ...

General Armstrong died on September 1, 1969.

References

• Freeman, Roger A. The Mighty Eighth (1993 edition), (pp. 67-69). ISBN 087938638X
• Freeman, Roger A. The Mighty Eighth War Diary (1990), (pp. 89-95). ISBN 0879384956