Brereton, Lewis Hyde

From OnAirpower.org

Name:	Brereton, Lewis Hyde
Years:	1890-1967
Rank:	Lt. Gen.
Nationality:	American
Remarks:	American World War I aviator and later a senior air commander during World War II

[edit] Biography

Brereton attended the U.S. Naval Academy from 1907 to June, 1911. After graduating, he switched from the Navy to the Coastal Artillery Corps in the Army on August 17, 1911^[1].

In Spetember, 1912 Brereton was assigned to the Signal Corps Aviation School in San Diego, California and qualified as a military aviator on March 27, 1913. In July, 1916 Brereton was transferred to a non-flying position in the Second Field Artillery, stationed in the Philippines. In January, 1917 he was transferred back to the Signal Corps and assigned to the Second Aero Squadron, also stationed in the Philippines. He returned to the United States shortly thereafter, and was assigned to the position of Chief Signal Officer in the Office of the Aviation Section^[1].

In October, 1917 Brereton went overseas and was placed in command of the 12th Aero Squadron in March, 1918. He participated in operations in the Toul and Luneville sectors as well as in the attack on Vaux in July, 1918. He became Chief of Aviation, First Army Corps on July 5, 1918. He took command of the Corps Observation Wing just prior to the St. Mihiel operations. In October, 1918 he became an operations officer on the staff of the Chief of the Air Service, American Expeditionary Forces. He remained in that position until the end of World War I, at which point he became Chief of Staff, Headquarters Air Service of the Third Army^[1].