11 Facts About Oscar Westover

Oscar M Westover was a major general and fourth chief of the United States Army Air Corps.

Oscar Westover began his service as a private in 1901 before being appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Oscar Westover graduated from there in 1906, ranked 43rd in his class, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 14th Infantry.

Oscar Westover was promoted to first lieutenant on April 13,1911; to captain on July 1,1916; and brevetted to major on October 20,1917.

In 1919, Lieutenant Colonel Westover was detailed to the United States Army Air Service to serve as Assistant Executive Officer for Director Major General Charles T Menoher, where he butted heads with Billy Mitchell over subordination to authority, and on July 1,1920, transferred permanently to the new Air Service branch with the rank of major.

Oscar Westover served as Assistant Executive and Executive in the Office of the Chief of the Air Service, from November 1918 to November 1920.

Oscar Westover was appointed director of aircraft production in April 1921, serving until December 1922.

Oscar Westover attended the Air Service Balloon School in 1921, and the Air Service Airship School in 1922.

Oscar Westover continued on to heavier-than-air flight training, completing the Air Service Primary Flying School at Brooks Field and the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field in 1923 at the age of forty.

Oscar Westover then completed the ACTS course himself in 1927.

Oscar Westover died, aged 55, in a plane crash on September 21,1938.