This picture was cropped from a Gulf War painting by Col. H. Avery Chenoweth from his book "Art of War", 8th generation (HENRY POYNTZ7, HENRY PIRTLE6, JOHN SMITH5, JAMES S.4, RICHARD3, JOHN2, JOHN1), a descendant of Richard of Louisville.
In a sense, Cora Hiatt, in her 1925 book began this page, with many pages dedicated to the service of family members in defense of our nation. The page was first suggested to me by Nancy Forsyth of Kentucky who was a Navy WAVE in the Second World War. It is a pet project of Peter Chenoweth, career Army, now retired, whose father served in both World Wars. It is dedicated with the utmost respect for the service of individuals listed. God Bless them for what they did for all of us.
The history of wars of this nation are unique and part of the very fiber of the nation's psyche. Chenoweths have served in every one of these conflicts. There are more than 1,400 names listed on this page, but the actual number is far greater.
separate pages: [Revolutionary War] [Civil War]Major Conflicts
[French & Indian] [War of 1812] [Texas Succession]
[Black Hawk War] [Mexican War] [Indian Wars]
[Spanish American War] [First World War] [World War II]
[Korean War] [Vietnam War] [Gulf War] [Operation Iraqi Freedom]
[Global War on Terrorism ]
After serving with the 29th Infantry at Ft Benning, GA, General Douglass entered the Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, TX in March 1924, was transferred to the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, TX, and completed his flying training a year later. He was assigned to the 94th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field, MI. In January 1926 he went to France Field in the Panama Canal Zone for duty with the 24th Pursuit Squadron, and on April 13, 1926 was transferred to the Air Service.
Appointed an instructor in the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, TX in February 1929, General Douglass served as aide to the commanding general of Duncan Field, TX from January 1920 to October 1931, moving to Randolph Field, TX in that capacity. In August 1934 he entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, AL and graduated the following June. Moving to Barksdale Field, LA, he served with the 55th Pursuit Squadron and later became intelligence and operations officer of the 20th Pursuit Squadron.
Going to Schofield Barracks, HI in September 1937, General Douglass was assigned to the 18th Pursuit Group, and two years later joined the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron at Mitchel Field, NY. From September 1940 until January 1941 he was an observer in England, and then attended the Air Defense School at Mitchel Field. In April 1941 he was named executive officer of the Third Interceptor Command at Tampa, FL beoming operations officer of the Third Air Force that October. The following February he was named a member of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense of Canada and the US.
Returning to Hawaii in September 1942, General Douglass commanded the Seventh Fighter Command until April 1944 when he assumed command of the Seventh Air Force in the Central Pacific. In July 1945 he was assigned to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. That October the general assumed command of the First Air Force at Mitchel Field, NY taking it to Ft Slocum, NY the following June. He became commanding general of the Indoctrination Division of the Air Training Command at San Antonio, TX in July 1947.
Transferred to the US Air Forces in Europe in October 1948, General Douglass was named Chief of Staff, USAFE, at Wiesbaden, Germany. In February 1951 he became acting commander of the 12th Air Force at Wiesbaden and the following month was named special assistant to the commander-in-chief, USAFE, there. That April he assumed command of the 18th Air Force, Tactical Air Command, at Greenville Air Force Base, SC.
Assigned to Air Force headquarters, Washington, DC on September 30, 1954, the general was named senior US Air Force member on the Joint Mexican-US Defense Commission. On November 1, 1954 he also became senior US Air Force member, US Delegation, on the Joint Brazil-US Defense Commission.
Robert Wilkins Douglass, Jr retired from active duty as a Major General, was rated a command pilot, combat observer and technical observer. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal.
A special thanks to Nancy Forsyth for the suggestion and Peter Chenoweth who made this page so much more.
Last Revision Monday, May 21, 2012 Return to Start