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    HomeAbout UsBiographiesDisplay      Engage On
        
        BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM J. FLOODWilliam J. Flood was born on July 15, 1895, in Peoria, Ill. He attended George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and was commissioned a second lieutenant, Aviation Reserve, on Nov. 8, 1917. He joined and served with the Aviation Section, Signal Officers Reserve Corps with the American Expeditionary Forces in France from December 1917 to June 1919. 
Upon completion of his duties with the American Expeditionary Forces, he returned to the United States and served as Assistant Chief of the Liquidation Division, Air Service, Washington, D.C. , in May 1920; Post Exchange Officer and Instructor, Post School at Lee Hall, Va., to April 1921; Aeronautics Supply Officer and Chemical Warfare Officer at Brooks Field, Texas, to June 1922; student, Balloon and Airship School at Scott Field, Ill., to September 1923; student, Communications Department at Chanute Field, Ill., to June 1924; Communication Officer and Instructor, Balloon and Airship School, Scott Field, Ill., to September 1925. 
He then became a student of Ground School Instruction and Flying Training at Brooks Field, Texas, until February 1926; at Scott Field, Ill., to June 1926. He entered the Air Corps Engineering School at McCook Field, Ohio, and graduated on June 19, 1927. 
He became Commanding Officer with the 19th Airship Company, Langley Field, Va., until April 1929, when he was assigned to duty in the Administrative Training and Operations Division, Office of the Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D.C., until February 1933. He enrolled in the Air Corps Primary Flying School, Randolph Field, Texas, and graduated in February 1934. 
In March 1934 he was assigned to Headquarters Army Air Corps Mail Operations, Washington, D.C., as Assistant Chief, G-1, Personnel Officer. He enrolled in the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Ala., in August 1934, graduating in June 1935. In February 1936 he entered the Chemical Warfare Service School, Edgewood Arsenal, Md., and graduated in April 1936. At that time he became Commanding Officer, Air Corps Detachment, and Instructor, Chemical Warfare School, Edgewood Arsenal. 
In March 1940 he was assigned to Headquarters of an Air Corps Wing, Hickam Field, Hawaii, as Wing Materiel Officer. He was transferred to Fort Shafter in November 1940 and became Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, Supply, Hawaiian Air Force. He was appointed Commanding Officer, Army Air Base, Wheeler Field, Hawaii, in October 1941, and was wounded in the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor. He was subsequently made Chief of Staff of the Seventh Air Force at Hickam Field. 
He is rated a command pilot, combat observer, airship pilot, balloon pilot and balloon observer. He was the first pilot to pick up mail from the top of a building while in flight, and the first to pick up mail from a ship at sea. He took part in the International Balloon Race in Belgium in 1925, finishing second. **PROMOTIONS** 
First lieutenant (temporary), Air Service, April 7, 1919; second lieutenant of Infantry, Regular Army, July 1, 1920; also on July 1, 1920, he was promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to the Air Service in October 1920; captain, July 16, 1928; major (temporary), June 16, 1936; major (permanent), Sept. 4, 1937; lieutenant colonel (temporary), March 1, 1940; lieutenant colonel (permanent), Nov. 29, 1940; colonel (temporary), July 15, 1941; brigadier general (temporary), Feb. 6, 1943.
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