Arnold took command of the 1st Wing himself on January 4, 1933, which flew food-drops during blizzards in the winter of 1932-33, assisted in relief work during the Long Beach earthquake of March 10, 1933, and established camps for 3,000 boys of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
27. novembra 1931 je prevzel poveljstvo nad letališčem March v Kaliforniji, kjer je Spaatz istočasno prevzel poveljstvo 1. bombniškega polka.