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Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM E. LYND |
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MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM E. LYND
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Retired Dec. 31, 1946.
Died Nov. 14, 1968.
William E. Lynd was born in Santa Fe, Kan., in September 1893. Prior to the World War he attended the University of Washington, Seattle, and was admitted to the Idaho Bar, the state in which he practiced law. He enrolled in the National Guard of Idaho on Dec. 16, 1915, and went into Federal service with the 2nd Idaho Infantry on border patrol duty between June 20, 1916, and Jan. 27, 1917. On March 26, 1917, the regiment again was mustered into the Federal service at Boise Barracks, Idaho. During October 1917 he was stationed at Camp Greene, N.C., where his regiment was converted into the 146th Field Artillery. This was followed by short periods at Camp Mills, N.Y., and Camp Merritt, N.J. In the meantime, on April 4, 1917, he was commissioned a temporary second lieutenant.
His border service was as Regimental Commissary Sergeant. His first commission was issued immediately prior to the entry of the United States into the World War. He sailed for France for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in December 1917, and while overseas attended the Artillery School at Camp de Souge. On Feb. 22, 1918, he was detailed in the Air Service to receive observation training and graduated from Observation School at Tours on April 3, 1918, then was made an instructor at this school until June 8, 1918.
He graduated from Aerial Gunner School, Cazneaux, on June 30, 1918, and at the 2nd Aeronautical School, Chatillon-sur- Seine, on July 28, 1918. He then reported to the 135th Observation Squadron as an Observer at the front beginning Aug. 19, 1918. While serving with this squadron near Essey, France, he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action.
He was Operations Officer of the 4th Observation Group between Oct. 15 and Nov. 20, 1918, then Adjutant of the Observation Group of the Second Army until Dec. 28, 1918, when he assumed command of the 85th Observation Squadron and moved to Senzig, Germany. He returned to the United States on July 29, 1919.
He accepted a commission in the Regular Army in 1920 and first was stationed at Post Field, Okla. He took the course in observation and served as Director of the Air Service Observation School there between Nov. 23, 1920, and Jan. 10, 1921. He graduated from the School of Fire at Fort Sill, Okla., on April 9, 1921, then returned to the Air Service Observation School as Officer in Charge of Training, serving as its Secretary between August 1921 and December 1921.
He enrolled in the Primary Flying School at Carlstrom Field, Fla., completing the course as an honor student in June 1922. He graduated from Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, on Dec. 17, 1922, then was assigned to command the 40th School Squadron at that post. In September 1923 he enrolled in the Air Service Technical School at Langley Field, Va., graduating in June 1924. He assumed command of the 42nd School Squadron and served also as an instructor in the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, where he became Director of Basic Training in January 1925, and eleven months later Director of the Academic Department at that school.
In November 1928 he was assigned to special duty at Headquarters of the Air Corps Training School, Duncan Field, Texas, and a month later became Director of Training at the Air Corps Training Center there. He was ordered to Washington, D.C., on April 29, 1930, for duty with the Inspection Division in the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps. One and one-half months later he went to Crissy Field, Calif., as Commanding Officer from Aug. 6, 1930, until Oct. 4, 1930, then commanded the 20th Pursuit Group at Mather Field, Calif., until the following August.
He graduated from the two-year course at the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth Kan., in June 1933, and from the Army War College, Washington, D.C., in June 1934. He was stationed at Mitchel Field, N.Y., until the following March, then entered the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps in Washington. In June 1937 he was assigned to the Naval War College, Newport, R.I., from which he graduated in June 1938.
He became Commanding Officer of the 18th Pursuit Group at Wheeler Field, Hawaii, and on July 1, 1939, became Air Base Commander at that field. On Sept. 16, 1940, he was assigned to general staff duties at General Headquarters with offices at the Army War College, Washington, D.C., and on July 22, 1941, was assigned to Headquarters of the Air Force Combat Command, Bolling Field, D.C. He was later assigned to the 2nd Air Support Command at Birmingham, Ala., until June 1942. He was Commanding General, VII Bomber Command, Hawaii from November 1942 to June 1943; Commanding General, Fourth Air Force, San Francisco, Calif., until 1946.
He is rated a command pilot and combat observer. He was promoted to major general Sept. 17, 1943.
For gallantry in action during the World War he was awarded the Silver Star with the following citation:
"William E. Lynd, captain, Air Corps, then first lieutenant, 135th Aero Squadron, Air Service, American Expeditionary Forces. For gallantry in action over Essey, France, Aug. 25, 1918. Lieutenant Lynd with Lieutenant Walter M. Jagoe, pilot, while on a mission to photograph the enemy line from Montsee to Vie-ville-en-Haye, with two protection planes, was pursued by an enemy formation of seven pursuit planes. One of the protection planes was seen to be in difficulty, the controls being damaged and the observer being seriously wounded. Going to the assistance of this plane, Lieutenant Lynd and his pilot succeeded in driving off the enemy, although the injured plane crashed behind our lines. His mission not being completed, Lieutenant Lynd returned to the field, secured new photographic plates, and with the one protection plane again endeavored to fulfill his mission. On arriving over the lines he was met by an enemy patrol of five pursuit planes and driven back over the allied lines three times. When not having sufficient gas to continue, he was forced to return. Securing another plane and pilot, Lieutenant Lynd endeavored the third time to complete his mission, but after attaining the necessary altitude, it was too late in the day to properly photograph the terrain."
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 1943 with the following citation:
"For extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight near Wewak, New Guinea, on March 13, 1943. As command pilot of a bombing airplane, Brigadier General Lynd attacked an enemy convoy in a bombing run at extremely low altitude, first destroying an enemy tanker and subsequently scoring direct hits on a transport, causing it to explode and burst into flames. General Lynd's personal courage and coolness under enemy fire contributed materially to the unusual feat of sinking two enemy ships in a single bombing run."
Other awards and decorations include Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and Purple Heart.
(Biography compiled from information in a 1943 War Department biography; the Biographical Dictionary of World War II Generals and Flag Officers by R. Manning Ancell with Christine M. Miller, and USAF Historical Study No. 91: Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers 1917 to 1952.)
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