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| Information > Biographies > BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANKLIN S. HENLEY |
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BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANKLIN S. HENLEY
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Died Dec. 28, 1990.
Franklin Stone Henley was born in Hawkinsville, Ga., in 1909. He graduated from Eastman High School in 1926. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 18, 1927, where he attended the Officers' Preparatory School for two years. He received a competitive appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in 1929 from the state of Michigan. He graduated in 1933 in the middle of his class.
Second Lieutenant Henley's first assignment was that of student officer at Randolph Field, Texas. In 1934 he received his pilots wing at Kelly Field, and today is rated a command pilot and aircraft commander. He is current in the C-121, the primary mission airplane of his command.
Lieutenant Henley's first assignment after Kelly Field was at Luke Field, located on Ford Island, Honolulu, Hawaii where he served first as a pilot with the 4th Observation Squadron and later as test pilot and assistant engineering officer in the Hawaiian Air Depot, then located on Ford Island.
In 1936 he met and married his wife, who was on a visit to Hawaii with a group of her classmates from the University of California.
From 1937 to 1940 Lieutenant Henley was stationed at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill., where he was assigned as adjutant and engineering officer of the Air Base Squadron. While at this station he held as an additional duty practically every other job on the base, except that of base commander.
In June 1941, Captain Henley was ordered to Sheppard Field, Wichita Falls, Texas, and was the first duty officer to report to this station, which was then in process of construction. He organized, trained and directed the activity of the Sheppard Sub Depot, a branch of the Air Materiel Command for one year. During this time he was promoted to major and lieutenant colonel.
In June 1942 he was ordered to Oklahoma City as a deputy commander of the Oklahoma City Air Depot, then a process of construction and activation. While at Oklahoma City he served also as depot supply officer and assistant depot engineering officer.
In July 1943 he was ordered to the European Theater of Operations where he served first as deputy chief of staff of materiel, during the activation and buildup of the Base Air Depot System in England. For a period of approximately six months, during which time he was promoted to full colonel, he served as deputy commander of the First Base Air Depot area in direct support of the 9th Bomber Command, 9th Air Force.
One of the most interesting and challenging assignments was as commander of the 9th Troop Carrier Service Command, the logistics force for the 9th Troop Carrier Force assigned to the First Allied Airborne Army. In this position he participated in all the airborne operations of the Troop Carrier Forces in Europe, and in addition worked closely with the British Airborne Forces engaged in this operation. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and the French Croix De Guerre for his work during this period.
Following the cessation of hostilities he returned to the United States in September 1945, where he served for a short period of time, approximately nine months, at the Ogden Air Materiel Area.
In June 1946 he was assigned as commander of a field office of the Air Inspector, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He was stationed first at Orlando, Fla., then at Gunter Field, Ala., and later at Langley Field, Va.
In September 1947 to December of the same year, he was a student at Harvard University where he attended the Advanced Management Course of the university.
In January 1948 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force with duty station in the Pentagon, where he served first as chief of Plans and Programming Section of the Directorate of Maintenance, Supply, Transportation and Service. For a period of approximately one year he served as chief of the Supply Division.
From July 1941 to July 1952, Colonel Henley was a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
From 1952 to 1954, Colonel Henley served as air base wing commander of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. During this period Kadena was actively engaged in support of two bomb groups participating in the Korean War. For his work and support of these operations he was awarded an oak leaf cluster for his Legion of Merit.
Since his return to the United States in September 1954 he has served continuously with the Military Air Transport Service. From 1954 to 1957 he was chief of staff of the Atlantic Division.
In July 1957 he was ordered to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., to assume command of the 1608th Air Transport Wing. He is presently commanding this organization and was promoted to brigadier general on May 4, 1960.
General Henley is a member of the Rotary Club of Charleston; the board of directors of the United Fund of Charleston County, a director of the Coastal Carolina Division of Boys Scouts of America; past president of the National Defense Transportation Association; honorary member of the Charleston Power Squadron and National Toastmaster's Club; a member of the Presbyterian Church and a 32nd degree Mason.
DECORATIONS AND MEDALS
Bronze Star
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
European-African-Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal
American Defense Service Medal
Croix De Guerre with palm
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award six oak leaf clusters
(Up to date as of June 1960)
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