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| Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS H. CHAPMAN |
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MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS H. CHAPMAN
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Retired Nov. 1, 1952.
Died June 1, 1969.
Thomas Herbert Chapman was born in Muskegon, Mich., in 1895. He graduated from high school at Detroit in 1912 and attended the University of Michigan for a year. He then became a service representative for the Studebaker Corporation.
General Chapman enlisted in the Quartermaster Corps Reserve, June 11, 1917, and was assigned to active duty. On Aug. 8, 1918, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to Jacksonville, Fla. In July 1918 he was transferred to the Motor Transportation Corps Reserve with station at Camp Humphreys, Va. He received his regular commission as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps, July 1, 1920, and was promoted immediately to first lieutenant.
In 1921 General Chapman began flying training and after graduation from flying school and bombardment school was transferred to the Air Service June 19, 1922. He then served three years as a flying instructor. In 1925 he became engineering officer at the San Antonio, Texas Depot. From 1928 to 1930 he was an engineering officer for the Philippine Air Depot, after which he returned to the San Antonio Depot.
General Chapman graduated from the Air Service Tactical School in 1935 and was assigned to the Materiel Command at Wright Field, Ohio, as chief of procurement inspection. In August 1942 he assumed command of a heavy bomb group of the Second Air Force at Spokane, Wash. In October 1942 he became executive officer of the Second Air Force. In May 1943 he was named tactical operations and plans officer of the Second Air Force. The following August he assumed command of the 73rd Bomb Wing at Salina, Kan., and in April 1944 became deputy commander of the San Antonio Air Service Command at Kelly Field, Texas. In August 1944 he assumed command of the Warner Robins Air Service Command at Robins Field, Ga.
In August 1945 General Chapman was assigned to the Far East Air Forces, and a month later assumed command of the Fifth Air Force Service Command in Japan. In January 1946 he became commander of the Seventh Air Service Area Command in Japan. In July 1946 he went on detached service as commander of the Japan Air Materiel Area, and in January 1947 assumed command of the air depot at Hickam Field, Hawaii. A year later he became chief of the Los Angeles, Calif., Procurement Field Office.
General Chapman was appointed chief of the Maintenance Division, Directorate of Supply and Maintenance, Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson, Air Force Base, Ohio, in October 1950. He assumed command of Warner Robins Air Materiel Area at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., in June 1952.
General Chapman has been awarded the Legion of Merit. He is rated a command pilot, combat observer and aircraft observer.
(Up to date as of June 3, 1952)
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