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        BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM W. WELSHWilliam. W. Welsh was born in Alma, Colo., in 1893. He attended the University of Colorado and enlisted as a flying cadet in the Aviation section of the Signal Reserve on Dec. 20, 1917. 
He entered the School of Military Aeronautics at the University of Texas on Dec. 29, 1917, and was transferred to Camp Dick, Texas, in February 1918. He received flight training at Park Field, Tenn., completing training in June 1918, and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He was transferred to Camp Dick until July 1918, and then to Payne Field, Miss., where he served as a flying instructor until October 1918. At that time he was transferred to the Aviation Concentration and Supply Depot, Garden City, N.Y., for shipment to the A.E.F.
Following the Armistice, he was transferred to Carlstrom Field, Fla., on Dec. 14, 1918, for advanced flight and gunnery training, remaining there as an instructor and performing administrative duties until honorably discharged on Aug. 12, 1919.
Upon gaining a commission in Regular Army, he reported to Fort Logan, Colo., and was transferred in October 1920 to March Field, Calif., where he served as a flying instructor. In May 1921 he returned to Carlstrom Field, Fla., where he served as a flying instructor and commandant of cadets, remaining there until June 1922 when Carlstrom Field was abandoned and the garrison moved to Brooks Field, Texas. He held similar duty at Brooks Field until June 1923 when he was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone. He served there until June 1926 with the Seventh Observation Squadron, returning to the United States for an assignment to Kelly Field, Texas, where he served as Commanding Officer of the 41st Squadron, flying instructor and as Post Adjutant. During his tour of duty at Kelly Field, he graduated from the Advanced Observers Course. In 1931 he moved to Louisville, Ky., for duty with the Organized Reserved in the Fifth Corps Area and as Commanding Officer of Bowman Field, Ky.
In August 1935 he served as a member of the special board to determine the types of aircraft to be used by the Organized Reserves. In August 1936 he was transferred to Maxwell Field, Ala., to attend the Air Corps Tactical School, remaining there after graduation as Adjutant and Executive of the Air Corps Tactical School.
On activation of the Southeast Air Corps Training Center, Montgomery, Ala., in June 1940, he was assigned as Executive Officer, later becoming Chief of Staff and Commanding General of that organization.
In September 1943, he transferred to Headquarters Army Air Forces Training Command, Fort Worth, Texas, where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and later becoming Chief of Staff of that command.
In September 1944, he was assigned to Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C. , as Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Training, in charge of all Air Forces training in the Zone of the Interior.
His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Commendation Ribbon.
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