United States Air Force General. He began his distinguished career as an United States Military Academy graduate on June 12, 1915 and became a life long advocate of military aviation. In 1918, he completed training in aviation and was chief of staff of the 3rd Army Air Service Command serving in Europe during World War I. With the Air Corps, he served in the Office Air Service at Washington, D.C. was military attache for aviation in London and was an instructor at the U.S. Military Academy. As Commander of the 19th Bombardment Group, he was promoted to Brigadier General in 1940. During World War II, he was commanding Major General of the 6th Air Force, 1942 and was promoted Lieutenant General in February 1943. In November 1943, he was commander for the entire Air Forces of the South Pacific Area and in January 1944, he assumed command of the 13th Air Force in that area. In June 1944, he was appointed commander of the 6th Air Force reassigned the Caribbean Air Command, remaining until the end of the war. For his war services he was awarded, the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak Leaf clusters, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Commendation Ribbon, Army of Occupation of Germany Medal (World War I), American Campaign Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three service stars. In October 1947, he was appointed senior Air Force member of the Military and Naval Staff Committee of the United Nations. On August 14, 1954, General Harmon became the first superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado and retired from active status on July 31, 1956.
United States Air Force General. He began his distinguished career as an United States Military Academy graduate on June 12, 1915 and became a life long advocate of military aviation. In 1918, he completed training in aviation and was chief of staff of the 3rd Army Air Service Command serving in Europe during World War I. With the Air Corps, he served in the Office Air Service at Washington, D.C. was military attache for aviation in London and was an instructor at the U.S. Military Academy. As Commander of the 19th Bombardment Group, he was promoted to Brigadier General in 1940. During World War II, he was commanding Major General of the 6th Air Force, 1942 and was promoted Lieutenant General in February 1943. In November 1943, he was commander for the entire Air Forces of the South Pacific Area and in January 1944, he assumed command of the 13th Air Force in that area. In June 1944, he was appointed commander of the 6th Air Force reassigned the Caribbean Air Command, remaining until the end of the war. For his war services he was awarded, the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak Leaf clusters, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Commendation Ribbon, Army of Occupation of Germany Medal (World War I), American Campaign Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three service stars. In October 1947, he was appointed senior Air Force member of the Military and Naval Staff Committee of the United Nations. On August 14, 1954, General Harmon became the first superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado and retired from active status on July 31, 1956.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force; First Superintendent U.S. Air Force Academy, 27 Jul 1954 – 27 Jul 1956
Family Members
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