John F. Curry: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|United States Army Air Forces general}}

Major General '''John F. Curry''' was the first national commander of the [[Civil Air Patrol]]. The United States Air Force Auxiliary.

{{Other people|John Curry}}

{{Infobox military person

{{Uncategorized|November 2006}}

|birth_name=John Francis Curry

|birth_date={{birth date|1886|04|22}}

|death_date= {{death date and age|1973|03|04|1886|04|22}}

|placeofburial_label=Place of burial

|placeofburial=[[Fort Logan National Cemetery]]

|image=John F. Curry.jpg

|caption=

|nickname=

|birth_place=[[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]

|death_place=[[Colorado]]

|allegiance={{flag|United States of America}}

|branch=[[File:US Army Air Corps Hap Arnold Wings.svg|25px]] [[United States Army Air Forces]]

|serviceyears=1904–1945

|rank=[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|30px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]

|servicenumber= 0-2353

|unit=

|commands=Ellington Field Bombing School, Commandant, Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Al, Commanding Officer of Hamilton Field, Ca, Commanding General, Northwest Air District and [[Second Air Force]], Spokane, Wash

|battles=[[Pancho Villa Expedition]]<br/>[[World War I]]<br/>[[World War II]]

|awards=[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>[[Legion of Merit]] <br/>[[Legion of Honor]]<br/>[[Order of the Black Star|Ordre de l'Étoile Noire]]

|relations=

|laterwork= [[National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol|National Commander, Civil Air Patrol]]

}}

[[Major general (United States)|Major General]] '''John Francis Curry''' (April 22, 1886<ref name=afhrastudy91pdf134>{{cite web |url=https://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/51-100/AFD-090601-134.pdf |title=Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers, 1917-1952, Volume 1 – A thru L |year=1953 |last=Fogerty |first=Robert P. |pages=416–418 |publisher=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]] |id= USAF historical studies: no. 91 |access-date=November 9, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831192543/https://www.afhra.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/51-100/AFD-090601-134.pdf |archive-date=August 31, 2021}}</ref> – March 4, 1973) was the first national commander of the [[Civil Air Patrol]], the United States Air Force Auxiliary. He was also a major general in the [[United States Army Air Corps]].

==Biography==

{{USAF-stub}}

Curry, a 1908 [[West Point]] graduate, had learned to fly in time to accompany General [[John J. Pershing]]'s expedition to Mexico. Later, during [[World War I]], he served as Chief of Staff of the Air Service of the Second Army in France, under Col. [[Frank Purdy Lahm|Frank P. Lahm]]. On October 26, 1918, while serving as an observer in a [[135th Aero Squadron]] airplane, the DH-4 was shot down by the anti-aircraft fire; he and his pilot escaped capture. On November 3, 1918, while still serving as an observer, his plane-along with an aircraft of the [[168th Aero Squadron]]-destroyed a German observation balloon. Curry served as the fourth and final commander of [[Air Force Life Cycle Management Center]] predecessor, the Army Air Service Engineering Division at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio, from 1924 to 1927.<ref>AFLCMC Heritage Hangar v4 #27, 1-7 Jul 2024</ref>

In late 1941, civilian pilots were interested in assisting the U.S. military. However, in Washington, D.C., those in authority scoffed at the idea that a group of non-military aviators could provide such assistance. Despite these misgivings, the [[Civil Air Patrol]] was formed as a part of the United States' home defense needs. Curry, an Army Air Corps officer, was selected as its first national commander. As such, he was the nation's only acting general in command of a civilian army. He served in this capacity from December 1941 to March 1942.

Founded as a volunteer organization, the Civil Air Patrol conducted patrols over coastal waters in search of enemy submarines and naval activity. As it was not a government-sponsored plan to provide free flight training, each individual had to pay for their own flying time.

Part of the reason for the founding of the Civil Air Patrol was to keep aviation from being put aside entirely during the war. As Gen. Curry stated, "Without such a plan [as Civil Air Patrol], there might be no [[private aviation]] for the duration of the war; with such a plan, there is a chance that private flying may continue and develop." Under Curry's guidance, wings were formed in every state. He helped mobilize 100,000 private pilots for non-combatant service; thus freeing military pilots for wartime duty.

There was no discrimination because of one's gender. Individual ability, experience, and records were the main criteria for selection. In Curry's words, "There must be no doubt in the minds of our gallant women fliers that they are needed and, in my opinion, indispensable to the complete success of the Civil Air Patrol organization. A great part of the progress made in organizing civilian aviation under Civil Air Patrol has been due to the volunteer help given by women flyers." Although he only served a few months as national commander, Gen. Curry's organizational skills were influential in determining the future growth of the Civil Air Patrol.

Originally, the Civil Air Patrol was allowed to prove itself for a 90-day test period. Success in deterring German U-boat attacks on merchant's vessels encouraged the USAAF and USN to support the Civil Air Patrol's coastal patrol mission, among others. After the end of [[World War II]], the Civil Air Patrol continued to serve the nation in the performance of dangerous missions. The Colorado Wing, Civil Air Patrol, and Colorado State Director of Aeronautics headed now by retired Maj. Gen. John F. Curry conducted light plane surveys through rugged Colorado [[Rocky Mountains]]. Where more than 50 peaks have an elevation of greater than {{convert|14000|ft|m}}, scores of flying individuals lost their lives due to unpredictable winds. As a result of Curry's direction, maps of safe flying routes were developed by Colorado Civil Air Patrol personnel.

The first Civil Air Patrol cadet achievement, the [[Awards and decorations of the Civil Air Patrol#General J. F. Curry Achievement|General J. F. Curry Achievement]], is named in his honor.

==Decorations==

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png|width=256|alt=}}

|-

|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Army of Cuban Pacification service ribbon.png|width=106|alt=}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Mexican Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}

|-

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army of Occupation of Germany ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}

|-

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion Honneur Officier ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ordre de l'Etoile Noire Officier ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=}}

|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|-

|colspan="17"|[[U.S. Air Force aeronautical rating|USAF Command Pilot wings]]

|-

!1st Row

|colspan="4"|[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]]

|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Merit]]

|colspan="4"|[[Cuban Pacification Medal (Army)]]

|colspan="4"|[[Mexican Service Medal]]

|-

!2nd Row

|colspan="4"|[[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]]

|colspan="4"|[[Army of Occupation of Germany Medal]]

|colspan="4"|[[American Defense Service Medal]]

|colspan="4"|[[American Campaign Medal]]

|-

!3rd Row

|colspan="4"|[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with one service star

|colspan="4"|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]

|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Honour|Officier of the Legion of Honor]] ([[France]])

|colspan="4"|[[Order of the Black Star|Officer of the Ordre de l'Étoile Noire]] ([[France]])

|-

|}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== Sources==

*{{cite book |title=Leadership: 2000 and Beyond |publisher=Civil Air Patrol |edition=Second |volume=I |date=June 2004}}

*[http://www.generals.dk/general/Curry/John_Francis/USA.html John F. Curry] at Generals.dk

*{{webarchive |date=2012-07-18 |url=https://archive.today/20120718220714/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=10216 |title=USAF Biographies}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Curry, John F.}}

[[Category:1886 births]]

[[Category:1973 deaths]]

[[Category:Air Corps Tactical School alumni]]

[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]

[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]

[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]

[[Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour]]

[[Category:Members of the Early Birds of Aviation]]

[[Category:National commanders of the Civil Air Patrol]]

[[Category:United States Army generals]]

[[Category:United States Army Air Forces generals]]

[[Category:Burials at Fort Logan National Cemetery]]

[[Category:United States Army Air Forces generals of World War II]]