Harold H. George

Harold Huston George (14 September 1892 – 29 April 1942) was a general officer in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He began his military career before World War I when he enlisted as a private in the 3rd New York Infantry Regiment. Joining the Air Service, he became an ace in France in 1918, credited with five aerial victories.

George, known as "Pursuit" George to distinguish him from Harold L. George ("Bomber" George), commanded the 5th Interceptor Command (Provisional) on Luzon following the attack by Japan on the Philippine Islands, then directed the remnants of the Army's air forces in the Philippine Islands after Far East Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton evacuated to Australia on 24 December 1941.

World War I service

George joined the New York National Guard on 5 July 1916, during the crisis caused by Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, New Mexico. His unit was federalized and deployed to the Mexican border, where he served as a sergeant until 5 October.

George enlisted as an aviation cadet on 15 April 1917, in the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. He completed flying training on the Curtiss biplane at Hazelhurst Field, Mineola, New York, received a rating of reserve military aviator, and was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Signal Officers Reserve Corps (SORC) on 15 September 1917. He went to Kelly Field, Texas, for additional training before going to Tours, France, as commanding officer of the 201st Aero Squadron in October 1917.

For six months he instructed other pilots at the Air Service AEF's training center at Issoudun. He then took pursuit pilot and gunnery courses himself and went into combat in August 1918 with the 185th Aero Squadron, and later duty with the 139th Aero Squadron.

George arrived at the 139th Aero Squadron on 18 September 1918. He scored his first two victories on 27 October, near Bantheville, France, he struck a formation of four enemy Fokkers, destroying two and driving the other two away. George shot down a Fokker D.VII single-handed and shared a second win with Robert Opie Lindsay. Two days later, he doubled again, sharing the wins over Fokker D.VIIs with Edward Haight and Karl Schoen. On 5 November, he shared his fifth victory over a D.VII with two other pilots, and became an ace. His Distinguished Service Cross came through after war's end, in 1919

After his return to the United States, George married Vera McKenna, whom he had met in Tours where she was working, on 5 April 1919, in New York City. They had two children, Robert (born 1920) and Peggy (born 1922).

Between wars

After the war he returned to the United States for duty at Langley Field, Virginia. In November 1919 he became flight commander and commanding officer of the 19th Pursuit Squadron at March Field, California, serving until March 1922. During that time he applied for and received a regular Army commission as captain, Air Service, on 1 July 1920, when the Air Service became a combat arm of the line. He went to Fort Douglas, Utah, for three years as Air Service Officer to the 104th Division. He was transferred to the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field in March 1925, as an instructor for two years, commanding officer of the 43d School Squadron, and chief of pursuit instruction to July 1929.

He was then assigned to France Field, Panama for a two-year tour, as operations officer and commanding officer of the 24th Pursuit and 7th Observation Squadrons, respectively. He returned to Langley Field on 25 June 1932, as commanding officer of the 33d Pursuit Squadron, followed by assignments as intelligence and operations officer of the 8th Pursuit Group. In 1934 he commanded a sector of the Eastern Zone of Army Air Corps Mail Operation, responsible for Air mail operations on routes between Newark, New Jersey

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